Anant Chaturdashi, also famously known as Ganesh Visarjan, happens precisely after 10 days of Ganesh Chaturthi. It falls on the 14th day of the lunar fortnight and is considered a day for special prayers for Hindus.
As per the rituals and traditions, those who believe in Lord Ganesha invite him to their homes for prosperity and wealth. Symbolized by an idol, Lord Ganesha is flooded with prayers and a great sense of reverence. After these 10 days of devotion and prayers, his journey comes to an end and he is thanked for all the blessings which he brought with him.
Moreover, Anant Chaturdashi also has a brief history that comes with it.
History of Anant Chaturdashi
As per the stories, legends, and beliefs, we can say that the Ganesh Visarjan began in the period of the Maratha Empire mainly in the era of Chhatrapati Shivaji. However, this fun and frolic ritual was somewhat extinguished during the British Raj due to the atrocities which they subjected to the Indians but was again revived during the Indian struggle as a source of perpetual motivation for the freedom fighters.
And as per the mythology, this festival traces an interesting story to its roots.
The Story Behind Anant Chaturdashi Celebrations
Did you know that there is also a story behind the reason for praying to God Anant? Once upon a time, there was a girl, Sushila. Her father, Sumant, was a Brahmin who remarried a woman named Karkash after Sushila’s mother passed away. But Sushila’s stepmother used to harass her and give her a lot of trouble.
This negative feeling stayed with the child Sushila who grew to be a beautiful girl, and when the time of her marriage came, she decided that she would move away with her husband who was Kaundinya.
While they were traveling, they passed from a nearby river. Seeing the river, Kaundinya thought to cool himself off for a while and went for a bath.
While he was bathing, his wife Sushila saw some women praying nearby. Intrigued, she joined them and asked them about their worship and they told her that they were worshipping Anant and further told them about the significance of Anant's vow. Anant Chaturdashi is one of the major festivals of Maharashtra.
The Vow - Anant Chaturdashi Festival
According to the vow, they explained to Sushila that some fried flour and Anarase needs to be prepared. After preparing this, half of these dishes are given to the Brahmins.
Then a cobra is made out of sacred grass named Darbha and is put in a basket made of bamboo for worshipping. The materials used for worship include scented flowers, an oil lamp, and incense sticks. Some of the food prepared is offered to the snake.
At the end of this, a silk string is tied to the wrist of the devotees. This string is called Anant. It has got 14 knots and is typically colored with Kumkum. Womenfolk tie the knot in their left hands and the men tie it in their right hand.
The Purpose Of This Vow
The main purpose behind this vow is to earn purity of the divine and prosperity. This vow is kept for a period of 14 years by the devotees.
Coming Back To The Story
When Sushila got to know about Anant’s vow, she decided to keep it too. The womenfolk taught her the rituals and tied the ceremonial thread on her left hand.
After that, both the husband and wife miraculously prospered. Everything was going smoothly until one day his husband Kaundinya asked her the reason for the vow and when she told him he was furious at her.
An argument followed at the end of which her husband took the thread and threw it in the fire. After this suddenly, there was a spell of misfortunes on the family and they were reduced to poverty. It was then that finally, he understood that it was all because of Anant.
He had to undergo severe penance and when he finally found Anant it was revealed to him that he was none other than the supreme Lord Vishnu. Furthermore, he was even promised by Anant that if he keeps the vow and completes it then at the end of 14 years he would successfully obtain wealth, children, and happiness which he did and lived happily after.
Major Attractions Of Anant Chaturdashi
On this very day, Ganesh Chaturthi comes to an end. And now comes the time for Ganesh Visarjan. The murti of Lord Ganesh is taken to the nearby water bodies such as a lake, river, or ocean for Visarjan.
There are colorful parades in which people who had invited Lord Ganesha to their homes take the idol for the purpose of inundating it with water. One can see the people dancing in pure divinity. The vibe of the parade is simply enchanting.
Also Read - Top 10 Famous Ancient Lord Ganesha Temples In India
How to Reach
Mumbai is an interesting urban travel getaway where one can hope to witness a wide variety of festivals, events along with travel getaways. From Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Bengaluru you will need to cover a total distance of 1,416, 710, 2,219, and 984 km respectively. Let’s discuss how you can reach Mumbai by the following routes.
By Air
The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) formerly known as the Sahara International Airport is the major airport to travel to Mumbai. After Delhi airport, this airport is known to be the 2nd busiest airport handling and connecting flights locally as well as internationally.
As per the data of 2019, it was considered the 41st busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic. Many known airlines like Spicejet, Air Asia, IndiGo, and Go Air are some of the best options to reach here. While deboarding at the airport, it is important to know that this airport has two terminals.
Yes, Terminal 1 stands for the domestic terminal. This terminal is alternatively also known as the Santacruz Airport.
The second terminal known as Terminal 2 is majorly known for handling all the international flights to and fro Mumbai Airport. On a yearly basis, this particular terminal has been known for handling about 40 million passengers (approx figure)
By Road
If you want you can also give traveling via road a shot. Yes, as the road networks connecting Mumbai are mostly well-maintained, thus, depending upon your location you can easily visit here. From Pune you will need to cover 150 km via Mumbai-Pune Highway, from Nashik you will need to cover 165 km via NH160, from Ratnagiri, you will need to cover 454 km via NH66 or Nh48, and from Goa, you will need to cover 582 km via NH48.
You can also consider traveling via interstate buses to reach Mumbai. Yes, the Mumbai Central Bus Station is the primary bus terminus situated in the center of Mumbai. From this terminus, buses (luxury, semi-luxury, passenger) of MSRTC (Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation) operate to and fro on a fairly regular basis.
By Train
The city of Mumbai is well-linked by a very prominent network of railway lines. If you are someone coming from Central, Western or Eastern parts of Mumbai, then you should deboard at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.
However, if you are coming from the northern side then you must consider deboarding at the Mumbai Central Station. After deboarding, you will need to cover the remaining distance via some means of public transport like a cab, bus, auto, or metro to reach your destination.
From Delhi, you can take Mumbai Rajdhani and deboard at Mumbai Central. From Hyderabad, you can take Rajkot Express or Konark Express via Secunderabad Junction. And, from Visakhapatnam, you can board Konark Express via Visakhapatnam railway station.
You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here.
