Ganpati Visarjan is a very famous event that is an integral part of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. We can say this ceremony is a kind of bidding farewell to Lord Ganesha after thanking him for visiting the home during Ganesh Chaturthi puja. During this ceremony, people thank Lord Ganesh for all the blessings and favors received and take the idol of Ganesh worshipped during the puja and immerse it in some water bodies like wells, lakes, ponds, rivers or seas. The Ganpati Visarjan is marked by an enthusiastic procession of masses of people carrying the idols of Lord Ganesh of all sizes, shapes and colors and shout the names of Lord Ganesh in ecstasy.
The date of Ganpati Visarjan differs from place to place. Some people do the visarjan on the same day of Ganesh Chaturthi in the evening. In some other places, it is done on the 3rd, 5th or 7th day. However, the most popular practice is to do the visarjan on the 10th day. This day is called as Ananta Chaturdashi. Chaturdashi is the fourteenth day of the lunar month. Anat Chaturdashi falls ten days after the Ganesh Chaturthi on Tuesday, 5th September 2017.
On the day of Anant Chaturdashi (Tuesday, 5th September 2017), there are four auspicious timings for Ganpati Visarjan.
Morning Muhurta: 09:12 - 13:53
Afternoon Muhurta: 15:27 - 17:01
Evening Muhurta: 20:01 - 21:27
Night Muhurta: 22:53 - 27:13
You can choose the right time as per your convenience. If you are planning to do the Visarjan by participating in the procession organized in your region, you can do so during the time when the procession is scheduled.
Ganpati Visarjan also reminds people of the cycle of life including birth and death. Ganpati Visarjan symbolically states that nothing on the earth is permanent and everyone must die at some point of time. This awareness is expected to promote some good morals, values, detachment, and sense of sacrifice in people.