Why Ganesh Idol is immersed in Sea after a week after Ganesh Chaturthi !

[suresh_krsna]

Why are we Immersing Ganesh Idol in Sea, River etc..Why is Custom followed - Is there a reason !

 

Please Explain.

 

[vanamali]

I think it's simply that the murthy is supposed to be *actually* Lord Ganapati for those ten days, and then when the murthy is dissolved, Lord Ganesh departs. But he returns again the following year.

 

from http://www.salagram.net/parishad124Ganesha%20Chaturthi.html

 

"On Ganesh Chaturti the devotees bathe and then worship the clay image of Ganesha. Offerings include sweets, particularly modaks, for which Ganesha has a special weakness. Later the image of the deity is taken out in procession accompanied by the singing of devotional songs. The image is worshipped for 10 days before it is immersed in the sea or river. While it is being immersed, the people chant:

 

Ganapati bappa morya

Mangal moorti morya…

Purchchya varshi laukar ya…

 

Father Ganapati, come again !

Auspicious one, come again !

Come again soon next year!"

[suresh_krsna]

Mataji ! But why Lord Ganesh is immersed, why cant we preserve the Idol.Why are we throwing the Idol after 10 days !.

 

Acutually speaking !.Dont mistake me !.

 

We are already in such a polluted environement - on top of this we are immersing thousands of idols in Sea / river water.Dont we think we are doing wrong.-As already water is contaminated these days - while the Idols are immersed - there are paint's and other toxic Substances are decorated on the Idol ! we are contaminating the water also.

 

Is there a reason for immersion !