Ganesh Immersion or Nimajjan – A Grand Public Event
Posted on September 5, 2008 in Festivals by naveen
More than just being a festival, Ganesh navaratri has a great history to understand. If you think Ganesh mandaps, sitting Ganesh statue in the mandap and celebrating it as a public festival is a tradition of ages old, then you are mistaken.
Ganesh festival has become a public festival in late 1900’s. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a well known freedom fighter has made the tradition of Ganesh festival and nimajjanam or visarjan (immersion) as a public event. Lord Ganesh is also known as ‘Vinayaka’, ‘Ganapati’, ‘Ganadhipa’, ’Gananayaka’ and ‘Vigna hantri’.
Maharashtra – The Place Where The Celebrations Have Started:
Ganapati, the god of wisdom and prosperity, and benevolent deity of the dynasty of Peshwas who ruled Maharashtra for several centuries. They praised Ganapati as their beloved herald for auspicious beginings. The Sardar families used to celebrate Ganesh festival at their houses. Sardar Nanasaheb Khasgiwale, in 1893, for the first time celebrated the Ganesh navaratri as a public festival and procession also taken out on the roads.
Role of Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Making It a Public Festival:
Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Thilak, a freedom fighter and statesman, saw the people’s unity and integrity for a common cause in the festival and has taken an initiative to make it big. He thought the Ganesh utsav can unite the people to fight for freedom. And he started celebrating Ganeshutsav as a public festival by establishing a sarvajanik Ganesh in 1894 in Maharashtra.
Ten-Day Celebrations:
During the ten-day festival, devotees worship the Lord with the fullest devotion. On the first day, the clay form of Ganesh is established by devotees in a mandap (tent/ temple) and they start worshipping the idol. Nowadays, Plaster of Paris is used in making of Ganesh statue. In some places devotees establish the 32 forms of Lord Ganesha and pray.
Procession on 10th Day:
Devotees make a procession on the 10th day and Lord Ganesh leaves to his celestial home and is immersed in water. Devotees perform cultural activities on this day, they sing devotional songs (bhajans) and dance throughout the procession which goes on streets.
Immersion of Ganesh:
After the procession from the mandap to the water body where Ganesh statue to be immersed, devotees lift up the Ganesh with their hands or with cranes and perform ‘Aarti puja’ and immerse in water.
Ganesh Immersion in Mumbai, Pune And Hyderabad:
Mumbai, Hyderabad and Pune are the most popular cities that made the festival a huge public event. In these cities, Ganesh immersion (nimajjan / visarjan) is performed under a tight security of police and other volunteers. Hyderabad’s Khairatabad Ganesh is very famous and biggest idol among all mandaps in the world. In 2008, this mammoth Ganesh statue is about 46 feet height and weighs 17 tons.
Where the Immersion Takes Place?
In Mumbai and Pune, devotees perform a sequnetial dance as a part of the celebrations. In mumbai, Ganesh statues are immersed in the Arabian Sea. In Hyderabad, the statues are immersed in Hussain Sagar (Tank bund and Necklace Road) and in other lakes.
When is Ganesh Immersion in 2008?
In 2008, Ganesh immersion is on 14th September, Sunday. But, in some places it may vary with their local traditions and customs.
Let’s all say once, Ganapati Bappa Moriya, Agle Baras Toh Jaldi Aa!
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