During the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, a Ganapati idol is immersed in water. The immersion of the idol is done to signify the end of the festival and the return of Lord Ganesha to his heavenly abode. The idol is made of clay, which is mixed with water to give form to the formless. Each person brings a clay statue of Ganesha into their home, symbolizing the Supreme Beings homecoming. After the festivities, it is time to embrace the cosmic law that everything that has taken shape must return to its formless state. The immersion of the idol also represents the Hindu notion of Moksha, or emancipation, which means absolute detachment. The immersion of the idol is done in rivers, lakes, ponds, or the ocean, and it can also be carried out at home. The immersion of the idol is a way of bidding farewell to Lord Ganesha and unknowingly serving a farewell to Goddess Laxmi.