Other · Vishnu (Ananta), Ganesha
Anant Chaturdashi
Vishnu is worshipped as Ananta, the endless one, with a protective thread, and the Ganesh festival ends in grand immersions.
Also known as: Ananta Chaudas, Ganesh Visarjan Day
Date and muhurat
✓ 28.6519°N, 77.2315°E · Asia/Kolkata
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When is it observed?
On the fourteenth day (Chaturdashi) of the bright fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada, ten days after Ganesh Chaturthi. The puja is done in the morning half of the day while Chaturdashi is in force.
About Anant Chaturdashi
Anant Chaturdashi has two faces. In many homes it is a vrat of Lord Vishnu in his endless form, Ananta, in which a cord with fourteen knots is worshipped and tied on the arm. In Maharashtra and many other places it is also the last day of the ten-day Ganesh festival, when the idols are carried to rivers, lakes and the sea.
The vrat is kept by families who have a tradition of it, and the day often begins with a bath, a fast until puja, and a katha. The immersion processions that evening are among the largest public gatherings of the year in cities like Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad, filled with drums, dancing and the cry of Ganapati Bappa Morya.
Significance
Ananta means without end, and the thread symbolises the infinite, protective presence of Vishnu. Those who tie it traditionally take a vow to follow righteous conduct and, in the customary account, keep the vow for fourteen years, which echoes the number of knots; this comes from the Kaundinya story below and is not followed by everyone.
For the Ganesh festival, immersion expresses the Hindu idea that form returns to the formless. The idol that was welcomed with joy is sent back to the waters with a promise to return the following year, a cycle that teaches letting go with gratitude. Eco-friendly clay idols and artificial ponds are now widely used for this reason.
Anant vrat puja
- 1Bathe early, wear clean clothes and take the sankalp to observe the Anant vrat.
- 2Set up a kalash with water and mango leaves on a clean spot, and place on it a picture of Vishnu or the Anant image, along with a fourteen-knot cord made of cotton or silk dyed with kumkum.
- 3Light a lamp and worship the kalash, the cord and Vishnu with flowers, tulsi, rice, incense, fruit and sweets, and read the Anant Chaturdashi katha.
- 4Offer the cord to Vishnu while reciting the mantra your priest or family uses, then tie it on the arm (many sources say the right arm for men and the left for women, though some texts give the reverse, so follow your family's custom), with devotion and the intention to live righteously.
- 5Make a naivedya of sweet items such as halwa or puran poli, and share the prasad with the family.
- 6Break the fast with a simple meal after the puja, following the family custom, and give a gift or food to a Brahmin or the needy.
- 7For the Ganesh festival, perform the final aarti, offer a farewell prayer, and carry the idol in procession for immersion in water, asking Ganesha to return the next year.
The story
The Anant vrat katha tells of a Brahmin named Sumanta and his daughter Sushila. Sushila was married to a sage called Kaundinya, and on the way home she saw women worshipping Ananta. Learning the vrat from them, she tied the thread on her arm.
Kaundinya, who did not understand its meaning, took it for superstition and threw it into a fire. Soon his fortunes declined. Realising his mistake, he set out to find Ananta, and after much hardship met Vishnu, who forgave him and told him to observe the vrat for fourteen years. He did so, and his prosperity returned.
Another tradition, found in the Mahabharata, links the day to the Pandavas, who were advised by Krishna to observe the vrat during their exile in order to regain their kingdom.
What to do
- ✓Observe the vrat with sincerity and keep the thread with respect.
- ✓Offer tulsi and sweets to Vishnu.
- ✓Immerse Ganesh idols in designated eco-friendly spots or tanks.
- ✓Keep processions orderly, and follow police and local safety guidance.
- ✓Give food or donations to those in need.
What to avoid
- ✕Do not treat the thread carelessly or remove it with disrespect.
- ✕Do not immerse plaster-of-Paris or chemically painted idols in natural waters.
- ✕Avoid loud music near hospitals and during late hours.
- ✕Do not leave flowers, plastic and decoration waste in the water.
- ✕Avoid arguments and unkind words on the day.
Around the country
- Maharashtra: Ganesh visarjan processions with dhol-tasha drums, and Mumbai's Lalbaugcha Raja immersion lasts for many hours.
- Hyderabad and Telangana: the Khairatabad Ganesh and Hussain Sagar immersions draw huge crowds.
- Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh: families observe the Anant vrat with the fourteen-knot thread and a katha.
- Odisha and parts of south India: the Anant vrat is kept in some families, and Vishnu in his Anantha Padmanabha form is also remembered at Thiruvananthapuram.
Frequently asked questions
Why are there fourteen knots in the thread?
Fourteen is the number of the tithi, and in the tradition it is also linked to the fourteen worlds (lokas) and the fourteen years of the vrat. Each knot is seen as a reminder of Ananta's presence.
Why is Ganesh immersion done on this day?
The public Ganesh festival lasts ten days from Chaturthi, so it ends on Anant Chaturdashi. Immersion can also be done earlier, on day 1.5, 3, 5 or 7, depending on the household.
When should the Anant thread be removed?
Traditions vary: some wear it for fourteen days, others until it naturally wears off, and those who keep the full vrat renew it each year. When taken off, it should be placed respectfully in water or at the foot of a tree.