Ganpati Gele Gavala... Ganesh Visarjan

18th September, 2013 - Ananth Chaturdashi (Last day of the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival):

"Ganpati Gele Gavala, Chain Padena Amhala!"

[Rough translation: Lord Ganesh departs to His village, We all feel uneasy.]

Loud chants like these pierce the dark of the night as drum beats vibrate and firecrackers boom in the air. It seems like an entire city of Mumbai has taken to the streets. Hordes of people - more young than old - are all my eyes can see. There is jostling and shoving, there are celebrations, songs, dancing, revelry and a lot of merrymaking, everyone is on the move; so many things just a blur.

This is the last day of the annual Ganesh Chaturthi festival and one can see emotions running high; Our Beloved Bappa is all set to bid GoodBye.

On the streets of Mumbai:

At regular intervals, huge trucks, rickshaws and cars carrying varying-sized idols of Lord Ganesha make an appearance. Some pilgrims stand at the sidewalk and observe him passing by while others rush to capture His final glimpse in their lens for one last time.

Ganesha Goes Home

He seems living, breathing... stretching out His hands in full as an act of His blessing and benevolence.

Ganesha Blesses All

At the Ganesh Visarjan lake (immersion site): He sits down for the final rituals; the diya lamps igniting the devotional atmosphere, the arti or the devotional hymns pitching the solemn tempo and the prayer claps raising the barometer of faith.

Light of the divine: The Ganesha Arti

As someone who has been a guest for some 11 days now, Bappa knows all about you. Remember our Ganpati pandal hopping? (And, of course, our bribe of large modaks!!!) Your joys and sorrows are His joys and sorrows now. Yet, He is never tired to hear your woes out. It’s that time when you can fast track that one wish of yours for one last time. And, Yes. He fulfills. Never ever disappoints.

Hear my prayers, Deva!

All the religious paraphernalia is removed, slowly but surely. A member dear member of the family is about to depart. It’s a test of true love. A lesson in non attachment: If you truly love, it never disappears. It stays in the soul. Forever.

Ganesha, the Teacher

And then... like a little baby, a precious treasure... He is lovingly carried to the final visarjan (immersion) site with utmost care and highest respect. Eyes are moist, mood somber, cries of goodbye – Loud.

Farewell Time...

Ineffable feelings of deep tender affection dissolve the boundaries of ritualistic idol worship;

Goodbye, Ganesha

Instead, a new relationship is born... A relationship that promises to guide you through, through the passage of time.

A relationship that is hard to forget... even harder to let go. It’s a relationship that grows stronger... year after year. With every passing year.

Goodbye’s are not forever, are not the end;

it simply means I’ll miss you until we meet again. ~ Unknown

"Ganpati Bappa Morya,
Pudchya Varshi Lavkarya!"

Related Posts:

1. Ganpati Visarjan: Lord Ganesha's Journey back home
2. Goodbye Ganesha... Ganesh Visarjan
3. See you soon, Ganesha: Ganesh Visarjan, Mumbai