The ritual of immersing (visarjan) the idols after few days of worship reinforces the understanding that God is not in the idol, He is inside us.

 

The ritual of immersing (visarjan) the idols after few days of worship reinforces the understanding that God is not in the idol, He is inside us. So experiencing the Omnipresent in the form and deriving joy out of the form is the essence of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. In a way, such organised festivity and worships lead to an upsurge in enthusiasm and devotion.

Ganesha is the lord of all the good qualities in us. So when we worship Him, all the good qualities blossom in us. He is also the Lord of knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge dawns only when we become aware of the Self. When there is inertia, there is no knowledge, no wisdom, nor is there any liveliness (Chaitanya) or progress in life. So the consciousness has to be awakened and the presiding deity of consciousness is Ganesha.

That’s why before every puja, the Lord Ganesha is worshipped to awaken the consciousness. Therefore, people install the idol, worship it with infinite love, meditate and experience Lord Ganesha from within. This is the symbolic essence of Ganesh Chaturthi festival, to awaken the Ganesh tattva which is masked inside us.

Jai Shri Ganeshaya Namah!