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?
k.sri jyothirmani
Oct 15. 2010
hai i am jyothi. Thanks for updating us with Hinduism related subjects
Ramasubramanian Ganapathy
Aug 18. 2012
Thanks for the clarification. This clearly states the reasons why idols should be made only out of clay and not other mediums.
Sreedhar Talluri
Sep 07. 2012
Good infrmation about Ganesh visarjan… Jai Bholo Ganesh Maharaj ki JAI
mad.madrasi
Sep 13. 2012
A very nice and coherent explanation. Thank you for the clarification. From this year, I’m going to insist on only clay idols be bought in my home (and nearby pandals, if they listen).
Madhav
Sep 22. 2012
Pranam,
It is interesting and a happy situation to see so many people being aware about the negative impacts of POP and chemicals on water bodies. We should encourage making clay ganesh ji’s more and more. using natural/herbal dyes for decoration is already in good progress.
However; something that we the literate should question is:
Through out the year chemical, mechanical, leather, textile and other industries dump toxins into our lakes, ponds and rivers. Agreed people raise awareness about it. However; compare that year round toxicity to the impact created by Ganesh nimajjan. do we really think ganesh nimarjan is causing more harm to our water bodies than the chemicals being dumped by the industries.
I am not encouraging the idea of using POP based ganeshas; however; let us not say that POP based ganeshas are the reason our water bodies are getting contaminated.
I’ve lived in several parts in Bharat. In Bengaluru I’ve seen nimarjan in Ulsoor kere, People complained that due to Ganesh nimarjan, the lake is loosing its beauty. Alright, what about the rest of year when the lake is nasty to look at and kept in the worst sanitary conditions?
Similar case in Bhagyanagar (hyderabad). Hussain sagar lake is stinking through our the year and people complain about the lake getting dirty only during Nimarjan. I don’t think once an year immersion causes year round toxicity!
We should oppose the use of POPs but with the pretext that it is intoxicating our lakes and other water bodies is irrational. Lets be more thoughtful while making these claims. I don;t think there is a single case in the entire nation where any single individual has contracted diseases and deformities by using water from bodies where Ganesh Nimarjan is done. If there are then I apologize for my ignorance. Again the comparsion would be needed on how many are dying because of industries and how many because of nimarjan.
I apologize for having spoken about an issue that this may not be the right topic. However; felt it essential to invigorate our thought process in such regards. This could be a cover up for the industries trying to dump toxins by saying that the lake is contaminated because of nimarjan.
Rise, awake; Bharat rest not till the goal is reached – Swami Vivekananda
P.Kanickaraj
Sep 22. 2012
Mr. Madhav’s statement is thought provoking. I am also from Bengaluru and staying very near to the Ulsoor lake. The stench is intolerable and it has become a part of life of the people living surround the lake. As he said it is, mere foolishness to come to the conclusion that just because the idols of Ganeshs’ immersion made the surrounding stinking and makes the water body contaminated.
purshottam dass bansal
Sep 29. 2012
It is rightly so and should provoke every Indian
sirisettysaisurya
Sep 29. 2012
i like dis information abt lord ganesha
om vakrathundaya namaha
om eka dantaya namaha
om mushaka vahanaya namaha
jai bolo ganesh maharaj ki jai
venu
Sep 29. 2012
Thats great and useful info on both rituals and environment sides. Appreciate for sharing with all. Keep posting such important things in our day to day life.
saiteja
Oct 17. 2012
ganesh is great we have to make it idols with clay or mud
Digant
Mar 09. 2013
why is ganesh visarjan done
Aanandamayee
Mar 09. 2013
why we immerse ganesh in water
Madnashini
Mar 12. 2013
i want to know about effect of ganesh viserjan on environment
Vrisa
Mar 12. 2013
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Shama
Mar 14. 2013
what happens when idols are immersed in water
Khyati
Mar 14. 2013
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Rama
Mar 15. 2013
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Kamadev
Mar 16. 2013
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Shampa
Mar 17. 2013
history of immersion of idols
Shrigauri
Mar 17. 2013
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Rajhans
Mar 17. 2013
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Prayuta
Mar 22. 2013
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Maya
Mar 22. 2013
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Hemendra
Mar 24. 2013
is hindu deity ganesh idol digg out from kuwait
Omeshwar
Mar 25. 2013
good day for ganesh idol installation
Arunachaleshwara
Mar 26. 2013
why do they immerse ganesh in water
Namrata
Mar 27. 2013
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Janak
Mar 28. 2013
why is ganesh immersed in water
Satyaki
Mar 29. 2013
why is ganesha immersed in water
Anusuya
Mar 30. 2013
why does lord ganesh in water
Aashritha
Mar 30. 2013
no water body for old hindu idols
Gogula
Apr 01. 2013
why does lord ganeshas idol immersed in water
Shishir
Apr 06. 2013
Go to there the ganesh murti made By clay and see many types ganesh
Omar
Apr 07. 2013
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Vamdevi
Apr 09. 2013
history behind the immersion of idols
Avigna
Apr 10. 2013
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Marala
Apr 10. 2013
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Bhava
Apr 12. 2013
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Padmakali
Apr 13. 2013
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Thankam
Apr 16. 2013
tips to visarjan of old idols
Devkanya
Apr 16. 2013
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Mahamani
Apr 17. 2013
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Sparsh
Apr 17. 2013
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Varshana
Apr 19. 2013
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Pramiti
Apr 19. 2013
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Antariksh
Apr 20. 2013
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Subhasini
Apr 23. 2013
vinayaka chaviti did not do visarjan
Subhiksha
Apr 23. 2013
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Raghunandan
May 01. 2013
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Huma
May 01. 2013
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Saniya
May 06. 2013
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Taran
May 17. 2013
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Eta
May 19. 2013
project on bad effects on ganesh visarjan
Hemraaj
May 20. 2013
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Giribala
May 23. 2013
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