Asthi Visarjan in Varanasi

After completing the preparation for the poojan, pandit begins the poojan by reciting all the mantras mentioned in the hindu holy texts and customs. The person performing the asthi visarjan is requested to recite some of the mantras as told by the pandit. During this procedure, poojan samagri is offered to the asthi kalash. Before the immersion of asthis in ganga river, pandit ji asks the almighty to accept the poojan and provide moksha to the departed.

Varanasi, also known as Kashi, is one of the world’s oldest towns and is known as the Land of Pilgrimage. For centuries, Hindus have travelled to this location because of its religious significance and historical landmarks. The Hindu religious ceremony of Asthi Visarjan, which is performed for the dearly departed, is the city’s most well-known feature. The immersion and dispersal of the deceased person’s ashes and bones in the flowing waters of a holy river in India is required for this Hindu religious respect to the deceased. The holy river Ganga, also known as the Ganges River, is situated in Varanasi and is considered the holiest of Indian rivers. Anyone who bathes in a holy river or has the ashes of the deceased immersed in the waters gets moksha, or salvation, according to Hindu sacred texts and religious epics. This is beneficial in the soul’s quest to become one with the Divine Power. Moksha also refers to the end of the reincarnation cycle. People travel to Varanasi or Kashi in search of redemption and forgiveness for all sins committed throughout their lifetime, which can be attained by bathing in the Ganges River for living mortals or having cremated remains immersed in the same river for deceased loved ones.

Asthi visarjan can be performed by the son, daughter, brother, sister, wife or husband of the departed soul. In case there is no one available in the family to carry out the poojan, then a friend or a pratinidhi can perform the rituals with the help of pandit. With the growth of digital age, one can perform the asthi visarjan poojan online, without even visiting at the poojan place physically. Prayag Pandits excels in providing online asthi visarjan poojan to anyone from any country.

Asthi visarjan in Varanasi is performed at the city’s sacred cremation ghats — primarily Manikarnika Ghat (the foremost asthi-visarjan ghat, where Vishnu’s chakra dug the kund and Shiva’s jewelled earring fell, per the Skanda Purana, Kashi Khanda) and Harishchandra Ghat (the older living-tradition cremation ghat, named for King Harishchandra’s truth-test). Families also visit Dashashwamedh Ghat for the evening Ganga aarti before or after the visarjan. Each ghat has its own scriptural and historical character; the in-person family chooses based on their tradition and the package booked.

There are different days in different castes and states. Generally, it is best to perform it as soon as possible. Asthi visarjan laws are different in Orissa, when compared to north india. But as per the holy texts, the asthis must be collected and put in a kalash on the 3rd day, 7th day, 9th day. Before the 10th day, asthi visarjan should be performed. This timing is prescribed in the Garuda Purana Preta Khanda. For ashes preserved long beyond this window — through migration, war, or generations — a short Prayaschitta (expiation) rite restores the offering to scriptural propriety; Kashi being Avimukta (Mahabharata Vana Parva), the kshetra Shiva pledged never to leave, the rite carries full merit at any time.

The poojan takes anywhere from 45 minutes to 120 minutes.

You should never keep the asthi inside your home. Rather, you should bury the asthi kalash in your garden, nearby empty land area or a patio.

Any nearby place where holy river ganga flows. For people living in or near Delhi, they can go Garh Mukteshwar or Haridwar. For People belonging to Northern India, they can visit Prayagraj, Varanasi or Mathura.

No, although river ganga is considered to be the most preferred when it comes to asthi visarjan, but any flowing water body is suitable for asthi visarjan.

Yes, if you are unable to visit physically, you can opt for online asthi visarjan. It is completely fine and is considered the preferred choice for many.