Ganesh Visarjan 2020: It is time to bid farewell to ‘Bappa’ or Lord Ganesha as the 10-day, Ganeshotsav, or Ganesh-Utsav, which began on Ganesha Chaturthi comes to an end. Today is celebrated as Anant Chaturdashi and it is believed that immersion of Lord Ganesha in water will bring happiness and prosperity to the house. Some devotees also perform Ganesha Visarjan on the 3rd, 5th, or 7th day.

Usually, the ‘visarjan’ is performed in a water body such as a river, lake, or sea but this year due to Covid 19, the government and civic authorities have advised people to conduct the ritual at home or in the case of Mumbai, the civic body  Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has mandated Ganeshotsav Mandals and citizens to book a slot for visarjan online. BMC has started a website for the same purpose.

The immersion rituals are not only performed for the closing of the festival but it also symbolises the truth about life and death. It highlights the inevitability of the cycle of birth and death.

The day is also known as Vinayaka Nimajjanam in Telugu speaking regions.

Immersion rituals

After bathing in the morning, devotees worship Ganesha and recite Ganesha Mantra and Ganesha Aarti. A swastika sign is made before the pooja. Various offerings such as flowers, incense, and delicacies such as modaks and laddoos which are considered to be the favourite food of Ganesh, are also made. Aarti is also performed before the ganesh idol is carried for immersion. The doors of the house are not closed till immersion is over.

Auspicious Moment of Anant Chaturdashi 2020

The moment of Ganesha immersion on Anant Chaturdashi , is as below as per drikpanchang.com

Morning: 09:10 a.m. to 01:56 p.m.

Afternoon: 15:32 PM to 17:07 PM

Evening: 20:07 pm to 21:32 pm

Night: 22:56 pm to 03:10 am.