Anant Chaturdashi is the concluding, tenth day of Ganesh Chaturthi — the day the idols installed ten days earlier are carried out for immersion. It's also, in its own right, a day given to Lord Vishnu in his Anant, or Infinite, form.
1 A festival's last day, and Vishnu's infinite one
Every Ganeshotsav runs ten days, and Anant Chaturdashi is where it ends. The day's centrepiece is Ganesh Visarjan — the final immersion of the idols in water, the act that formally closes the festival begun with their installation.
Visarjan completes a full cycle: welcoming the divine into the home or pandal, seeking blessings through ten days of worship, and finally bidding farewell — with the promise of reunion the following year. The same day also belongs to Vishnu in his Anant form, so Anant Chaturdashi carries a double devotion: gratitude to Ganesha as he departs, and reverence for Vishnu's infinite nature.
A farewell that's also a promise
Visarjan isn't simply an ending. The cycle it completes — welcome, worship, farewell — is built to repeat, which is why the same immersion that closes one Ganeshotsav already carries the expectation of the next.
2 The knot, the aarti, and the walk to the water
Tying the Anant Sutra
A sacred thread with fourteen knots, dipped in turmeric or vermilion, is tied in honour of Vishnu — on the left arm for men, the right for women — believed to bring peace and protection.
Aarti & Anant Puja
Before the idols are taken for immersion, families and communities perform aarti and Anant Puja, offering devotion and gratitude to both Ganesha and Vishnu.
Ganesh Visarjan
The idols are carried out and immersed in water, marking the formal close of the ten-day Ganeshotsav.
In Mukhed, Anant Chaturdashi brings the town's Ganeshotsav full circle, as idols installed ten days earlier are taken out for immersion. It's the closing chapter of the town's biggest festival, part of the wider festival calendar.
3 Notes on an eco-friendly immersion
Plaster-of-Paris idols and chemical paints can affect the water quality of the ponds and rivers they're immersed in, and many towns and cities now look for alternatives. Clay (shadu) idols, natural dyes, and small, purpose-built immersion tanks have been slowly gaining ground, particularly in urban areas where the strain on natural water bodies is greater.
- Choose a clay or naturally biodegradable idol where possible.
- Favour cloth and paper decorations over plastic and thermocol.
- Use an artificial immersion tank where the community provides one, easing pressure on natural water bodies.
- Clear away leftover flowers and decoration material from the banks afterward rather than leaving them in the water.
4 The story of sage Kaundinya, behind the Anant Sutra
The tradition of the Anant Sutra traces back to an old story. A devoted woman named Sushila was married to a learned sage, Kaundinya. While observing a vow in Vishnu's honour, she tied the Anant Sutra, but Kaundinya dismissed the practice and discarded the thread — and a string of misfortune and loss followed. Realising his error, Kaundinya seeks Vishnu's forgiveness, and Vishnu explains that true devotion demands faith and endurance, instructing him to observe the Ananta Vrata for fourteen years. Kaundinya completes the vow alongside Sushila and regains the fortune he lost.
A second story is woven into the same thread: after losing their kingdom in a game of dice, the exiled Pandavas were advised by Krishna to observe the Ananta Vrata in Vishnu's honour. Through devotion and discipline, they're believed to have eventually overcome their hardship and reclaimed their kingdom. Both stories carry the same thread — literally — of the fourteen-knot cord as a symbol of faith that endures, even when everything seems lost.
5 Frequently asked questions
When is Anant Chaturdashi in 2026, and why is it celebrated?
Anant Chaturdashi falls on 25 September 2026, the tenth and concluding day of Ganeshotsav, marked by Ganesh Visarjan — the final immersion of the idols in water. It's also a day given to Lord Vishnu in his Anant, or Infinite, form.
What is the Anant Sutra?
The Anant Sutra is a sacred fourteen-knot thread, dipped in turmeric or vermilion, tied in honour of Vishnu — on the left arm for men and the right for women — believed to bring peace and protection.
Is Anant Chaturdashi observed in Mukhed?
Yes — in Mukhed, Anant Chaturdashi brings the town's Ganeshotsav full circle, as idols installed ten days earlier are taken out for immersion, closing the town's biggest festival.
What is the story behind the Anant Sutra?
The tradition traces back to the story of Sushila and sage Kaundinya — misfortune followed after he discarded the Anant Sutra, and his fortune was restored only after completing fourteen years of the Ananta Vrata.
How can Ganesh Visarjan be made more eco-friendly?
Choosing a clay idol with natural dyes, avoiding plastic decorations, and using an artificial immersion tank where available all help ease the strain on natural water bodies.