Hindus celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in honor of Lord Ganesha, the god of prosperity, good fortune, and wisdom. Usually lasting ten days, the celebration starts with the placement of Ganesha idols in houses or public pandals, which are makeshift buildings, and ends with the immersion (visarjan) of these idols in bodies of water.
Why is Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi Visarjan celebrated?
The celebration honors Lord Ganesha's birth. Hindu mythology holds that Ganesha is the one who removes obstacles, so before beginning any new endeavors, one should ask for his blessings. On Ganesh Chaturthi, people pray, make sacrifices, and perform rituals in honor of Ganesha and ask for his blessings for success and prosperity.
Why is Visarjan (immersion) performed?
Visarjan is a representation of creation and disintegration and the cyclical aspect of life. Ganesha promises to return the next year, and his immersion marks his return to his celestial abode. It further supports the idea that although the divine is everlasting, its representations may come and go by symbolizing the transience of earthly forms. The environmental consciousness around Ganesh Visarjan has grown in the last few years, especially since 2000. In the past, idols were created from non-biodegradable materials like plaster of Paris, which, when submerged, contaminated water. Utilizing environmentally friendly materials for the idols, including clay, has been more popular since 2000, with the goal of lessening their influence on the environment. This pattern is still evident in 2024, when a large number of homes and towns choose to celebrate sustainab
ility.
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