The Ganesha Festival, celebrated over ten days, involves bringing a statue (Murti) of the god Ganesha into homes and communities. On the tenth day, participants take the statue to a river or ocean to immerse it in water, a ritual also known as "Visarjan." This act symbolizes saying goodbye to the deity. The statues, typically made from eco-friendly clay, dissolve in water, ensuring no harm to the environment.
During this festival, local artisans from Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Bihar set up workshops to craft the Ganesha statues. Once completed, people bring the statues to their homes or community setups, celebrating the arrival with the beating of drums (dhol), signifying a warm welcome. A particularly famous statue, Chinchpokli cha Chintamani, attracts over 100,000 visitors who come to witness and celebrate its arrival.
The immersion of the statue after ten days holds deep significance in Hindu belief. It is thought that Ganesha absorbs any negativity from his devotees and takes it with him into the water, symbolizing the removal of obstacles and purification. This festival is celebrated with great excitement in Maharashtra, where the devotion to Ganesha is profoundly emotional and faithful, making the goodbye on the tenth day a heartfelt moment.
