Why Ganesh visarjan is performed? Why Lord Ganesh is immersed in water after Ganesh Utsav? Ganesh immersion, also known as Ganesh Jala nimajjan, is the most beautiful event of this festival. About the immersion reasons and factors, it is the perplexing question to answer.
There are some reasons related to both the Sanatana Hindu dharma and the environment. As per many Hindu scriptures, the clay idols of any God (we usually see the idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Durga) should be immersed after performing puja and worshipping for certain period.
But nowadays the idols of Plaster of Paris are also immersed in
water. We should immerse only the clay idols in water and not the idols
made of other hazardous material like POP and other harmful chemicals.
There is another version of story Ganesh immersion and Durga Visarjan.
To reserve fresh water of rainy season in ponds, lakes, tanks, and
other water bodies, we need to dig out the old clay or soil in them. To
show the accordance between environmental awareness and Hindu rituals,
Ganesh idols are prepared with clay of tanks and ponds. But why the clay
idols are immersed in the same water from where the artisans picked out
the clay? The clay idol is worshipped with turmeric and some other natural herbs
during the Ganpati Navratri. The herbal characters of these materials
help the water animals like fish, tortoise, etc to grow well.
On the first day of Ganesh Utsav festival (Ganesh Chaturthi), Ganesh idol is installed in Mandap or houses. Installation
of an idol is nothing but ‘Prana Prathista’ and ‘avahan’ of the
particular God in to that. It symbolizes that Lord Ganesh is there in
the idol during the festival and receiving our prayers, chants, and
nivedanas. Other than her mother ‘Bhu mata’ (Mother Earth – Bhudevi is
none other than Goddess Shakti), no one can bear the power and energy of Ganesha after Ganpati Navratri festival and to symbolize his udwasan (farewell) Ganesha idol is immersed in water. Thus, he goes back to his heavenly abode.
Ganesh festival is not only a Hindu ritual but also reminds us the protection of environment. As per the scriptures
and traditions only clay idols are to be worshipped and immersed in
water. Those who celebrate Ganesh festival in eco friendly manner and
those who avoid immersion of eco-harmful and eco-hazardous material in
water would be blessed with better health and better environment.
This is reply to a query posted by N V Bala – “Why Lord Ganesh is
immersed – what is the significance of lord Ganesh being immersed?
A huge Ganesh idol being transported in a truck on the eve of Ganesh Chavti in Hyderabad on Sunday. (RVK Rao/EPS)
On the occassion of this Ganesh Chathurthi, Hyderabad is competing
with Mumbai in installing a large number of Ganesh idols. Ganesh
Chaturthi pandals will be errected at more than 60,500 locations in the
city, where Ganesh idols of different sizes will be installed on Monday.
The number this year is five to ten percent more compared to 2012.
Eco-friendly clay Ganesh idols are also very popular this year.
The
main attraction of the city is naturally the Khairatabad Ganesh idol
which measuring 59-feet accompanied by a 4,200 kg laddu. Elaborating on
the special features of the huge Ganesh idol, Balkumar, joint secretary,
Khairtabad Ganesh Utsav Samithi, mentioned that this year the Ganesh
idol is titled ‘Go Naga Chathurmuka Vinayakudu’, and is four-headed. It
also has Sri Rama Pata Abhishekam on its right and Shakthi Matha’s idol
on its left.
The joint secretary mentioned that the governor of
Andhra Pradesh will be performing the first pooja followed by others. In
view of the security aspect, CCTV cameras have also been installed at
the venue. “Apart from this, there will two hundred policemen, five
circle inspectors and a thousand volunteers at the venue”, elaborated
Balkumar.
Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi (BGUS) informed that
the Ganesh idols will be uninstalled on September 9 and the mass
immersion will be conducted on September 18 on eve of Anantha
Chathurdasi. R Shashidhar, secretary of the Samithi, mentioned that this
year it will be the 34th Samuhika Nimajanam.
Meanwhile,
Shashidhar also said that although the government is promoting the use
of eco-friendly colours for Ganesh idols, it has failed to provide the
required materials to the idol-makers. “We requested the government for a
meeting with all Ganesh idol-makers to discuss about the supply of
eco-friendly colours. On September 4, the government said that it is not
equipped to provide the colours as it cannot produce the same”,
informed Shashidhar.
BGUS also demanded the government to stop
spreading false information regarding pollution caused by the immersion
of Ganesh idols in different lakes of the city. “Government has failed
in protecting the Hussain Sagar lake which is being polluted by the
Kukatpally Nala and several other factors,” said Shashidhar. He added
that a report by Environment Protection Training and Research Institute
(EPTRI), mentions that usage of Plaster of Paris is best in the
idol-making as it is easy to extract the idols within 48 hours.
Khairatabad Ganesh Utsava Samithi Ganapathi idol
Gonaga Chathurmukha Ganapathi is the Khairatabad Vinayaka for 2013
Vinayaka Chavithi celebrations. Khairatabad Ganesh Utsava Samithi is the
most popular Ganeshotsav Mandal in Hyderabad.
Khairatabad Ganesh Utsava Samithi is celebrating its 59th year of
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations and to commemorate this historical event, the Mandal wanted to install 59-feet Ganesha idol. They have done it very beautifully.
The mammoth Ganapathi idol has the themes of Sri Rama Pattabhishekam
in the left side and Goddess Bhuvaneshwari Mata in the right side. Each
theme is about 20 feet.
The highlight of this Gonagar Chathurmukha Ganapathi is the 4 tonnes
Mahaladdu (4000 kgs of Tapeshwaram Laddu), prepared by a merchant in
Tapeshwaram, Coastal Andhra.
Video: 4200 kg laddu placed in Khairatabad Ganesh's hands
Kamadhenu Vinayaka is Chaitanyapuri Ganesha
2013 (Kamalanagar Manikanta Bhaktha Samajam Ganapathi). In 2013,
Vinayaka Chavithi celebrations have begun on September 9th and will end
on September 18th with Ganesh Nimajjanam.
Kamalanagar Ganapathi Nimajjanam may take place a day or couple of days after the actual Vinayaka Nimajjanam.
Since, 1986 Kamalanagar Manikanta Bhaktha Samajam is erecting Ganesh Pandal at Chaitanyapuri, Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad. From eight years, the mandali has been erecting mammoth Ganapathi idols.
This year, Kamanalanagar Manikanta Bhakatha Samajam has erected 35-feet Kamadhenu Ganapahti. The setting of this Ganesha has a Kamadhenu of nearly 15-feet on which 20-feet Lord Ganesha is seated with Siddhi and Buddhi.
According to the organisers, the Kamadhenu Vinayaka idol sends out the message of ‘Gow Parirakshana’ (protecting cows).
72 Feet Ganapati at Durgam Cheruvu, TV9 Eco-friendly Ganesha idol
The 72 Feet Ganapati at Durgam Cheruvu is the biggest Ganesha idol in Hyderabad for Ganesh Chaturthi 2013 celebrations. TV9 is organising this Ganesha Pandal.
The mammoth Ganesha idol is made of the Clay, water colors and other eco-friendly material which will not harm the water and the environment.
TV9 is organising this eco-friendly ‘Go Green Ganesha’ pandal to promote the use and worship of Clay Ganesha idols.
Last year also, TV9 was managed to install 70-feet Ganapathi vigraham at the same place in Durgam Cheruvu.
Kaloji Foundation is organizing a meeting in remembrance of Kaloji
Narayan Rao garu on his 96th birthday today, i.e. 9/9/2010 at 6:00PM at
Warangal Public School Auditorium, Hunter Road, Warangal. This event
would have eminent speakers like Nandini Siddha Reddy Garu, Allam
Narayana Garu among others and would be presided by S.Jeevan Kumar,State
President-Human Rights Forum. There would also be a felicitation to the
renowned Telangana Gandhi Bhoopati Krishnamoorthy garu who has served
his whole life for the cause of Telangana.