Durga Visarjan

Maa Durga is worshiped with full devotion from Pratipada to Navami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Ashwin month. During Navratri, from Pratipada to Navami Tithi, Maa Durga is worshiped and served a lot. On the day of Dashami, Goddess Durga is worshiped and immersed in a holy river. The idol of Maa Durga is earthly; hence it is mandatory to immerse the idol. If you have made the idol of Maa Durga made of metal, then instead of immersing that idol, install it at a suitable place and worship it daily. Although on the day of Dashami, the idol of Maa Durga is immersed after seeing the auspicious time as per the Panchang (Sanatan Moon Calendar), but in big city, the number of idols is more due to which everyone faces inconvenience in doing Durga immersion on the day of Dashami. Then some people observe Durga immersion even on the day of Ekadashi or Dwadashi after seeing the time from Panchang.

If there is no river or pond near your place of residence, then you can fill the water in a big vessel and immerse the idol of Maa Durga in that water. When the idol of the Goddess completely dissolves in that water, pour that water under a mango or any sacred tree.

The widespread festival of Durga Puja is celebrated with full joy and enthusiasm in Assam, Orissa, Bengal, Jharkhand, Manipur, and Tripura and apart from this, the festival of Durga Puja is also celebrated in full swing in the states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Maharashtra etc.

Importance of Durga Visarjan

Shardiya Navratri starts from Pratipada of Shukla Paksha of Ashwin month while Summer Navratri starts in Chaitra month. Maa Durga is worshiped for a full nine days. On the tenth day, the idol Maa Durga is immersed in a holy river or pond. Immersion does not mean the end of worship. In our Sanatan tradition, immersion has been said to mean ‘completeness’. When we start a religious work and finish it, it means that we have completed the work. Even after the worship of Maa Durga continues for nine days, until the idol of Maa Durga is immersed, it should be understood that the worship of Maa Durga is not yet complete. To complete the worship of Maa Durga, immersion is essential. There is no specific method of immersion. The method of immersion may vary according to different states. You should immerse the mortal remains of Maa Durga as per your traditional method. The immersion of Maa Durga should be done before evening after seeing the almanac (Panchang).

Method of Durga Visarjan

During Navratri, there is a tradition to immerse Durga on the tenth day of Shukla Paksha of Ashwin month or Chaitra month. Before immersion, Prasad is distributed after worshiping Goddess Durga, performing rituals and havan. Betel leaves are offered to the goddess, married women first apply vermillion to Maa Durga and then to each other. In West Bengal, this is called vermillion khela (playing with sindoor). By doing this one gets the blessings of Maa Durga. Maa Durga bestows blessings on married women to attain unbroken good fortune. The water filled in the Kalash which was set up at the beginning of Navratri is poured into the mango tree on the day of immersion. By doing this, negative energy is destroyed, and positive energy is transmitted. All the materials used in serving, worshiping, havan and performing rituals of Maa Durga for 9 days are immersed on the day of Dashami. Whatever material is offered for adorning the Goddess, married women can keep it as Prasad and use it. By doing this, married women attain unbroken good fortune.

Before immersing the mortal remains of Maa Durga, you should worship Maa Durga with flowers, Akshat, vermilion, incense, naivedya etc. After worshiping, do Aarti of Mata. After this, the mortal remains of Goddess Durga should be picked up from the place of worship and placed in a vehicle safely, so that it can be taken to a holy river or pond for immersion unbroken. Keep the puja and havan materials offered to Mata Rani along with the idol so that they can also be immersed. If you wish, you can take Maa Durga to the banks of a river or pond by playing drums. You can carry the idol along with all the devotees while applying Jakara. After reaching there, bid farewell to Maa Durga, apply Jai kara of Maa Durga, seek blessings for fulfillment of your wishes, pray to Maa Durga to come next year. Immerse the idol of Maa Durga in water by speaking Jaikara (praising Goddess) of Maa Durga.