Ganesh Chaturthi 2021: Let's Understand The Significance Of Ganesh Visarjan

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The Sanskrit word 'Visarjan' has many meanings. In the context of worship and pooja, it refers to the act of respectfully laying the idol used for worship to rest. During Ganesh Chaturthi, the idol used for worship is seen as a temporary vessel that holds the spiritual form of Lord Ganesha. Once the period of worship is over, the idol is submerged in a water body.

Timings Of Visarjan

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for 10 days and on the last day of the puja, Ganesh Visarjan is observed. As this year (2019), the festival falls on 2 September, the Visarjan or the immersion of the idol will take place on 19 September. According to Drikpanchang, auspicious timings for visarjan are as follows:

Visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi

Morning Muhurat (Chara, Labha, Amrita) - 07:40 AM to 12:15 PM
Afternoon Muhurat (Shubha) - 01:46 PM to 03:18 PM
Evening Muhurat (Shubha, Amrita, Chara) - 06:21 PM to 10:46 PM
Night Muhurat (Labha) - 01:43 AM to 03:12 AM, Sep 20
Early Morning Muhurat (Shubha) - 04:40 AM to 06:08 AM, Sep 20
Chaturdashi Tithi Begins - 05:59 AM on Sep 19, 2021
Chaturdashi Tithi Ends - 05:28 AM on Sep 20, 2021

The act of Visarjan too teaches the devotees many lessons. There are underlying messages and significances behind performing the Visarjan. Read on to learn more about them.

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Teaches Us To Respect Each Other
The creation of an idol requires efforts from people from different walks of life. A fisherman may dig up the clay required for the idol from the river bed, a potter or an artist creates beautiful idols and a priest performs the worship. It teaches us teamwork and mutual respect.

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Reminds Us That Life Is But Momentary
Ganesha is created with a lot of love. An idol is only an inanimate object. It is the love and devotion of the masses that transforms mere clay into something that possesses spiritual powers. And then when the time comes, it is returned to nature. Similarly, we are made up of only flesh and bones, animated by the power of our soul. This body too, will one day, return to nature.

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Tells Us That God Does Not Have A Physical Form
During Ganesh Chaturthi, we invite the spiritual form of Lord Ganesha into the idol and when the period of worship is over, we respectfully ask him to vacate the idol and then submerge it in water.
This shows us that God does not have a form and is 'Niraakar'. We give it a form or 'Aakar' only to be able to enjoy the various aspects of pooja such as- Darshan (sight of the Lord), Shravan (listening to the praise of the Lord), Sparsha (to touch the Lord), Gandha (to enjoy the smell emanating from the flowers and other fragrant substances) and Raasana (to taste the prashad).

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The Cycle Of Life
The ceremony of Visarjan is symbolic of the cycle of life and death we go through. The murtis of Ganesha is created, worshipped and then returned to the nature only to be reanimated next year. We too take birth, perform the duties of life and die only to be born again in a new form.

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Teaches Us Detachment
Visarjan teaches us to be detached from the world around us. Everything we love and cherish is only Maya of the Lord or an illusion. At one point or other, we will be separated from it and need to understand that all that never belonged to us. No matter how much we love Ganpati Bappa, when the time comes, we have to submerge the idol and let it go.

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Teaches Us Not To Be Attached To Material Wealth
The Visarjan teaches us that material wealth and worldly pleasures are only for the body and not for the soul.