Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai is a celebration that paints the city in hues of spirituality, color, and devotion. For 11 odd days, the city catches on to a completely different vibe – it doesn’t sleep anyways, but Mumbai suddenly feels more lively and enjoyable. And when the 11th day approaches, the celebration reaches their pinnacle with the visarjan ceremony. Ganpati idols bid an emotional farewell to the city, promising to return next year sooner than they did this year. Ganesh Chaturthi visarjan in Mumbai is an experience you must definitely not miss out on – so here’s team unstumbled guiding you through it!
Ganesh Chaturthi Visarjan In Mumbai: A One-Stop Guide For Devotees And Tourists
When Is Ganesh Chaturthi Visarjan?
With Ganesh Chaturthi beginning on August 27, Ganesh Chaturthi Visarjan will fall on September 6, 2025. Visarjan literally translates to ‘ritualistic immersion’ of an idol into a water body. On the day of the visarjan, devotees bid farewell to Lord Ganesha by immersing his idol into a water body, either an artificial tank/reservoir, lake, or the sea.
The visarjan ceremony can take place on a number of days, depending on how long a pandal or a family has decided to worship the idol for. Ganesh visarjan occurs on the following days after the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi:
- 2nd day (commonly called 1.5 days)
- 3rd day
- 5th day
- 7th day
- 11th day (Anant Chaturdashi)
How Is Ganesh Chaturthi Visarjan Observed?
The visarjan ceremony begins with the ritual of aarti – venerating the idol by singing praises, devotional songs, and aartis. Families come together, dress in their finest, and prepare a festive meal. This meal, meant to be the last meal for Lord Ganesha before his visarjan, is made with great love and enthusiasm.
Many families make festive staples like curd rice, puranpoli, modaks, and kheer to present them as naivedyam for the idol. It is only after the naivedyam is offered to the idol that everyone else has food.
Following a few rituals, the idol of Lord Ganesha is gently picked up and taken out for immersing it in the nearest water body. Many families sing and dance and carry out fun processions to celebrate this heart-touching departure.
On the other hand, large idols of Ganesha, often those in pandals, carry out processions on a much larger scale. In fact, devotees and tourists from all over the country visit these pandals to witness the visarjan ceremony. Devotees dance, burst firecrackers, and shower flower petals on the departing idol. In the end, the idol is immersed into a large reservoir or the open sea with chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Yaa” (All praise to Lord Ganesha; come back sooner next year!) filling the air with joy and jubilance.
Best Spots To Enjoy Ganesh Chaturthi Visarjan In Mumbai
Ganesh Chaturthi visarjan in Mumbai is a fun and enjoyable experience in any corner of the city. However, if you wish to enjoy the festival in its most vibrant way, you must head to these following locations:
- Girgaon Chowpatty
- Juhu Chowpatty
- Powai Lake
- Gorai Jetty
- Shroff Building
- Versova Beach
- Chichpokli Station (just outside the railway station)
- Dadar Chowpatty
Many famous idols like Lalbaugcha Raja and Chinchpokli cha Chintamani are immersed into the Arabian Sea at the iconic Girgaon Chowpatty. Visarjan processions of these idols begins early in the morning on the day of Anant Chaturdashi, with the actual visarjan taking place in the evening.
Tips For Attending Ganpati Visarjan In Mumbai
- Most roads, especially those around famous pandals are either closed for traffic or are open only for a limited time. If you’re planning to travel within Mumbai on visarjan day, avoid traveling on roads altogether.
- If you’re attending Ganpati visarjan of famous pandals, we recommend using public transport like trains and buses to reach these pandals or viewing locations. Avoid getting your own vehicle as there are high chances of your vehicle getting stuck in endless traffic congestion.
- If you’re not used to large crowds or don’t know much about traveling within Mumbai, avoid attending a visarjan ceremony alone. Bring along a family member or a friend who knows how to navigate within the city.
- Keep your location service on and share your live location to your close friends and family for additional safety.
- Wear suitable clothing and respect local customs and rituals.
- If you’re visiting a large water body like the chowpatties or beaches in Mumbai on visarjan day, do not steer too close to the water. It might be dangerous.
- Carry a water bottle, a power bank, and an umbrella without fail. Keep your backpack close to your body and avoid wearing valuables like jewelry and watches. Take great care of your wallet as well as large crowds attract notorious pickpocketers.
Summing Up
Ganesh Chaturthi Visarjan in Mumbai is a cultural experience unlike any other. In fact, in Mumbai, it is estimated that about 3,00,000 idols are immersed in the 11 days of Ganesh Chaturthi. The foot-thumping sound of dhols and music reverberates through Mumbai’s air and a sense of euphoria hits every Mumbaikars who celebrates this joyous festival on the day of the visarjan. So, if you too would love to experience the pinnacle of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, follow the tips we mentioned above, visit the places we recommend, and have loads of fun!
