Ganpati Visarjan 2024: It is not mentioned anywhere in the scriptures that we should do Ganesh Visarjan only on Anant Chaturdashi, but there are many reasons behind it. The main reason is Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. According to Tilak’s biography by Dhananjay Kheer, he made Ganesh Chaturthi a public festival. It was his organizational ability and leadership that turned it into a public festival.
Tilak used his energy to organize Ganesh Utsav and thus people got an alternative. Tilak saw the threat in the Hindu Sanatan majority who were slowly waking up against the British rulers. Thanks to Lokmanya Tilak, the first license to allow devotees to play music on the streets during Ganesh Visarjan and also during Vijayadashami, Shiva Jayanti (1916) was given by the then Police Commissioner of Mumbai.
For this reason, Ganpati immersion takes place on Anant Chaturdashi
Since then people started installing idols in pandals and immersing them after 10 days which is celebrated on Anant Chaturdashi (Anant Chaturdashi 2024). This is the last auspicious day of Bhadrapada. This is followed by Shradh and Pitru Paksha (Pitru Paksha 2024), which are inauspicious according to Sanatan Dharma (in Pitru Paksha, ancestors are mainly worshipped). Hence, immersion is done on this day – otherwise we would have to wait till Navratri for an auspicious day. After the 10-day celebration, Ganesh Visarjan takes place on this Anant Chaturdashi.
Remember, Ganesha has been invited, so he stays for ten days and goes back, only to return next year on Ganesh Chaturthi. Even the Narada Purana Purva Bhag (Chaturth Pada) Chapter 113 mentions that we should worship Ganesha before performing Anant Puja. Both the festivals are celebrated together with reverence and pomp. On one side Ganesh Visarjan takes place and on the other side Lord Anant is worshipped.
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