Ganesh Chaturthi

Date and Tithi

• Chaturthi Tithi begins: 7:06 AM, 14 September

• Chaturthi Tithi ends: 7:44 AM, 15 September

• The festival is observed on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi, the fourth day of the waxing moon in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada.

Sthapana Muhurat (Auspicious Time for Installation)

Unlike most vrats that follow sunrise timing, Ganpati Sthapana is governed by Madhyahna Kaal, the midday period. For 2026, the Madhyahna Muhurat falls between approximately 11:02 AM – 1:31 PM, Delhi-NCR timing.

If you're setting up the idol at home, plan to complete Sthapana within this window rather than at sunrise, a common misconception.

Significance

Ganesh Chaturthi became a large public celebration in the 19th century when Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak turned it into a community festival to unite people during the freedom struggle. Today it remains one of the most widely observed festivals across Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and increasingly the rest of India.

Puja Vidhi (Step by Step)

1. Clean and decorate the puja space a day in advance with flowers, torans and rangoli.

2. Bring the idol home in the morning, before the Sthapana muhurat.

3. Welcome Bappa at the door with aarti before bringing the idol inside.

4. Perform Pranapratishtha (idol installation ritual) within the Madhyahna window.

5. Conduct Shodashopachara Puja, the sixteen-step worship ritual.

6. Offer modak, durva grass and red flowers, Ganesha's preferred offerings.

7. Perform aarti morning and evening for as long as the idol stays home (1.5, 3, 5, 7 or 10 days, depending on family tradition).

A Note on Chandra Darshan (Moon Viewing)

Viewing the moon on Ganesh Chaturthi is considered inauspicious, linked to a legend where Ganesha cursed the moon for mocking him after a fall. The avoidance window for 2026 is roughly 9:01 AM – 8:09 PM, 14 September. If you happen to see the moon during this period, tradition holds that reciting the Syamantaka Mani shloka counters the effect.

Ganesh Visarjan 2026

The ten-day celebration concludes with idol immersion on Anant Chaturdashi, Friday, 25 September 2026. Many families also observe shorter cycles of 1.5, 3, 5 or 7 days.