Why the custom of not looking back after Ganpati visarjan is followed

There is so much joy in the house when Bappa arrives home. Drums, aarti, modaks, everything feels full of happiness. But as the day of visarjan draws near, the heart grows heavy. Bappa stays at home for a day and a half, five days, seven days or ten days, and then has to be bid farewell. This moment is truly very emotional.

Every home has its own way of performing the immersion. Some do uttarpuja, some perform aarti, offer naivedya, offer akshata, and then bid farewell to Bappa while chanting "Ganpati Bappa Morya, come again soon next year."

But at the time of immersion, a question comes to everyone's mind: should one look back after immersing Bappa or not? Elders always say not to look back after the immersion is done. But why is this said? Is there any scriptural basis behind it, or is it just a belief? Let us find out.

The first and biggest reason for not looking back is emotional. Bappa stays at home for 10 days. We worship him every day, talk to him. He becomes like a member of the family. When bidding him farewell in the water, it feels very sad. If we look back after the immersion, that attachment does not let go. The mind keeps feeling that Bappa should be kept a little longer.

That is why elders say that once you have bid farewell, do not look back, do not get caught in attachment. Make peace with the fact that Bappa has left, and go home with the joy that he will come again next year.

Another belief is that when Bappa leaves, he takes away all the sorrows, difficulties and troubles of the house with him. He is Vighnaharta, the remover of obstacles, and removes all our troubles. It is believed that if one looks back after the immersion, those sorrows are called back. That is why it is said that after Bappa leaves, do not look back, go straight home, so that the negativity of the house also leaves with him and you return home with new hope.

Truthfully, no major scripture states that looking back will bring sin or fault. This is not a rule, it is a folk tradition, a custom that has been followed since before. It is like when we go to drop off a guest at the station and do not stand there too long after they leave. Once the farewell is given, that is it, do not keep dwelling on it.

So what should one do? On the day of immersion, perform uttarpuja for Bappa with devotion. Offer naivedya that he likes, perform aarti. At the time of immersion, say "come again soon next year" from the heart. After immersing Bappa in the water, offer namaskar and go home without turning back. On reaching home, wash your hands and feet and clean the house a little. It is believed that positivity returns to the house after Bappa leaves.

In the end, this is entirely a matter of faith. Bappa does not get upset whether one looks back or not, he is our beloved one. What matters is that there should be feeling in the heart while bidding farewell. When Bappa leaves, he takes a promise to come again soon next year, and this thought should be kept in mind.