Ganapati Bappa - Visarjan.
The Ganapati idols that are kept for pooja in individual houses and Sarvajanik Mandals are bid a warm sendoff after 3/5/7/9/11 days. These idols are immersed in water (sea / river) and this is known as Visarjan.
Visarjan is celebrated with gaiety, passion, and bhakti in Maharashtra. On 19th Sept 2007 we went to Juhu beach in the evening just to spend a few minutes by the sea. We were not aware of Visarjan that day. As we walked along the Juhu beach road, we could see many Ganapatis taken in procession towards the beach.
On the sands of the beachfront, there were dozens of families - big and small - with their Ganapatis. They carry the idols either in their hands or (mostly) in a push cart. Many bring them in auto-rickshaws or in their swanky cars. The entire family - thatha, paatti, son / daughter, grand-children - come to the farewell party.
As soon as they reach the sands, they put a kolam on the sands and keep the idol within the square. They take out the pooja things that they have brought from their homes. The eldest in the family, a thatha or a paatti, normally perform the pooja on the sand. Quite elaborate poojai. Everyone sings along when the Aarti is done. The Neyvedyam is then offered to the Elephant God and everyone worships and prays. As bystanders, we too got a share of Prasadam from three families. Later, the idol is taken to the water and immersed to the vociferous chants of "Ganapati Bappa Moriya, Pudcha Varshi Laukar Yaa".
The families may consist of just 2 people - we saw an elderly couple aged about 75 or above, sitting on the sand and performing poojai for over 30 minutes. Or, a whole lot of them, some numbering over 30. But, whatever the number, the family does the poojai with passion, reverence, and bhakti. It is a sight to behold and cherish. There were 30 or 40 families doing the Visarjan poojai on that evening at any given time. If one batch leaves, there are two other batches to come.
As we walked back home, we could see many more families going towards the Juhu beach. It continued till late in the night.Today's was a stimulating experience to both Vijaya and I. The only pity was we did not carry the camera to capture our experience for posterity.
Ganapati Bappa Moriya, Mangala Murthy Moriya, Pudcha Varshi laukar Yaa
rajappa
10:45 on 21 Sept 2007 (Mumbai)
The Ganapati idols that are kept for pooja in individual houses and Sarvajanik Mandals are bid a warm sendoff after 3/5/7/9/11 days. These idols are immersed in water (sea / river) and this is known as Visarjan.
Visarjan is celebrated with gaiety, passion, and bhakti in Maharashtra. On 19th Sept 2007 we went to Juhu beach in the evening just to spend a few minutes by the sea. We were not aware of Visarjan that day. As we walked along the Juhu beach road, we could see many Ganapatis taken in procession towards the beach.
On the sands of the beachfront, there were dozens of families - big and small - with their Ganapatis. They carry the idols either in their hands or (mostly) in a push cart. Many bring them in auto-rickshaws or in their swanky cars. The entire family - thatha, paatti, son / daughter, grand-children - come to the farewell party.
As soon as they reach the sands, they put a kolam on the sands and keep the idol within the square. They take out the pooja things that they have brought from their homes. The eldest in the family, a thatha or a paatti, normally perform the pooja on the sand. Quite elaborate poojai. Everyone sings along when the Aarti is done. The Neyvedyam is then offered to the Elephant God and everyone worships and prays. As bystanders, we too got a share of Prasadam from three families. Later, the idol is taken to the water and immersed to the vociferous chants of "Ganapati Bappa Moriya, Pudcha Varshi Laukar Yaa".
The families may consist of just 2 people - we saw an elderly couple aged about 75 or above, sitting on the sand and performing poojai for over 30 minutes. Or, a whole lot of them, some numbering over 30. But, whatever the number, the family does the poojai with passion, reverence, and bhakti. It is a sight to behold and cherish. There were 30 or 40 families doing the Visarjan poojai on that evening at any given time. If one batch leaves, there are two other batches to come.
As we walked back home, we could see many more families going towards the Juhu beach. It continued till late in the night.Today's was a stimulating experience to both Vijaya and I. The only pity was we did not carry the camera to capture our experience for posterity.
Ganapati Bappa Moriya, Mangala Murthy Moriya, Pudcha Varshi laukar Yaa
rajappa
10:45 on 21 Sept 2007 (Mumbai)
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