Mumbai: The grand Ganesh Utsav of 2025, which began on 27 August with great enthusiasm, is now approaching its final farewell. Devotees across India, who have welcomed Ganpati Bappa into their homes and pandals, are preparing for the most important day of the festival — Anant Chaturdashi. This day marks the conclusion of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, when Lord Ganesha is bid adieu with devotion, chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya” and colourful processions.
In 2025, Anant Chaturdashi falls on Saturday, 6 September, and it is observed as the most auspicious occasion for Ganesh Visarjan. On this day, millions of devotees immerse the idols of Lord Ganesha in water bodies, symbolising his return to his divine abode and inviting him to return the following year. The day is not only about rituals but also about faith, community celebrations, and an emotional farewell to the beloved deity.
Ganesh Visarjan 2025: Shubh Muhurat
Anant Chaturdashi is considered the most sacred day for performing Ganesh Visarjan, and multiple auspicious timings (shubh muhurat) are available for immersion:
Morning Muhurat (Char, Labh, Amrit):
- 07:44 AM – 09:18 AM
- 09:18 AM – 10:52 AM
- 10:52 AM – 12:26 PM
Afternoon Muhurat:
- 01:59 PM – 03:33 PM
Evening Muhurat:
- 06:41 PM – 08:07 PM
Traditional Ganesh Visarjan Rituals
Before the immersion, devotees perform the final puja of the idol, offering favourite foods such as laddus and modaks. The family gathers to sing the Ganesh aarti and chant mantras like “Om Gan Ganapataye Namah.” A symbolic ritual involves tying rice grains and curd in a red cloth and placing it beside the idol, representing prosperity and auspiciousness.
During Visarjan, devotees pray for Lord Ganesha to take away negativity and obstacles and bless the household with prosperity until his return next year. The idol is then respectfully immersed in water, accompanied by chants and music. With growing environmental awareness, eco-friendly clay idols are being encouraged to prevent pollution and protect aquatic life.
Significance of Ganesh Visarjan
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and the god of wisdom and prosperity. For ten days, devotees worship his idol with devotion and offerings. The immersion on Anant Chaturdashi symbolises the cycle of life — that every beginning has an end, and every end paves the way for a new beginning.
It is believed that during this period, Lord Ganesha removes the sorrows of his devotees, and his return to his heavenly abode on Visarjan day assures them of his blessings for the coming year. Thus, Anant Chaturdashi is not just a ritual but a spiritual reminder of impermanence, devotion, and renewal.