Anant Chaturdashi is one of the most spiritually significant observances in the Hindu calendar, falling on the Chaturdashi tithi (fourteenth day) of Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha — the bright fortnight of the Bhadrapada month. In 2026, this sacred day falls on Thursday, September 25.
The word Anant means infinite or endless, and the day is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in His Anant Padmanabha form — the Supreme Being reclining on the infinite serpent Shesha, representing the boundless, eternal nature of the divine. Devotees observe a rigorous vrat (fast), perform elaborate puja, and tie the sacred Anant Sutra — a thread with fourteen knots — on their right wrist as a symbol of devotion to Lord Vishnu's infinite grace.
Anant Chaturdashi also holds immense significance as the day of Ganesh Visarjan, marking the grand conclusion of the ten-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Across India, especially in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka, devotثes bid farewell to Lord Ganesha with processions and immerse the Ganesh idols in rivers, lakes, and the sea, symbolising the cycle of creation and dissolution.
Anant Chaturdashi 2026: Key Dates at a Glance
Detail
Information
Festival
Anant Chaturdashi 2026
Date
Thursday, September 25, 2026
Hindu Month
Bhadrapada, Shukla Paksha
Tithi
Chaturdashi (14th day of bright fortnight)
Chaturdashi Tithi Begins
~11:18 PM on September 24, 2026 (IST)
Chaturdashi Tithi Ends
~11:06 PM on September 25, 2026 (IST)
Puja Muhurat
Morning to early afternoon (location-specific)
Ganesh Visarjan
September 25, 2026
Dedicated Deity
Lord Vishnu (Anant Padmanabha)
Check today's tithi, nakshatra, and auspicious timings on our daily Panchang.
In 2026, Anant Chaturdashi falls on Thursday, September 25. The Chaturdashi tithi of Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha begins at approximately 11:18 PM IST on Wednesday, September 24 and ends at approximately 11:06 PM IST on Thursday, September 25. Since the tithi spans the majority of Thursday, this is the designated day for the Anant Chaturdashi vrat and puja.
The puja muhurat generally falls during the morning to early afternoon hours. However, exact timings vary based on your geographic location. Devotees should consult a local panchang or a knowledgeable pandit for precise muhurat timings applicable to their city. The key requirement is that the Chaturdashi tithi must be prevailing at the time of the puja.
This day also marks the conclusion of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, which begins on September 14, 2026 (Ganesh Chaturthi). The ten-day celebration (counting from Chaturthi to Chaturdashi) culminates with the grand Ganesh Visarjan processions on this day.
Read our complete guide to Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 — date, puja muhurat, and sthapana vidhi.
The vrat katha of Anant Chaturdashi is narrated in the Bhavishya Purana and is traditionally recited during the puja. It tells the story of Rishi Kaundinya and his wife Sushila, and carries a profound message about faith, devotion, and the infinite blessings of Lord Vishnu.
The Story of Rishi Kaundinya and Sushila
Rishi Kaundinya was a learned Brahmin who lived a simple but contented life with his devoted wife, Sushila. One day, while Sushila was at the riverbank, she encountered a group of women performing a special vrat. Curious, she asked them about the observance. The women explained that they were worshipping Lord Anant — Lord Vishnu in His infinite form — and that this vrat, observed on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi, bestowed wealth, prosperity, and spiritual merit upon the devotee.
Inspired by their words, Sushila observed the Anant Chaturdashi vrat with sincere devotion. She tied the Anant Sutra — a sacred thread with fourteen knots — on her right wrist and performed the prescribed puja. Soon after, the household began to flourish. Wealth and good fortune entered their home in abundance.
However, Rishi Kaundinya grew suspicious of the thread on Sushila's wrist. When she explained its significance, he was dismissive and sceptical. In a moment of arrogance, he cut the Anant Sutra and threw it into the fire, declaring that he did not need a mere thread to sustain his fortunes.
The consequences were immediate and devastating. Kaundinya's cattle perished, his home was destroyed, wealth vanished, and misfortune befell the family at every turn. Realising his grave error, the remorseful Rishi set out on a long and arduous journey to seek Lord Anant and beg forgiveness.
After years of penance and searching, Lord Vishnu appeared before Kaundinya in His Anant form and explained the significance of the vrat and the Sutra. Kaundinya repented wholeheartedly, re-observed the Anant Chaturdashi vrat with complete devotion, and tied the sacred thread once more. Prosperity and peace returned to his life, and he lived in the grace of Lord Vishnu for the rest of his days.
This katha underscores that faith and humility are essential to receiving divine blessings. The Anant Sutra is not merely a thread — it is a symbol of one's unwavering connection to the infinite Lord.
The Anant Sutra: What It Is and Why It Matters
The Anant Sutra is the most distinctive element of the Anant Chaturdashi observance. It is a sacred thread bearing fourteen knots, each representing one of the fourteen lokas (worlds or planes of existence) described in Vedic cosmology. Together, the knots symbolise the totality of creation sustained by Lord Vishnu's infinite power.
The thread is typically made of raw cotton or silk and is dyed with kumkum (vermillion) or haldi (turmeric), giving it a red or yellow hue.
It is sanctified during the Anant Chaturdashi puja with mantras and offered to Lord Vishnu before being tied.
Men tie it on the right wrist and women on the left wrist (traditions may vary by region).
The Sutra is worn for the entire year until the next Anant Chaturdashi, when it is replaced with a new one.
The word Anant itself means without end — the thread is a tangible reminder of one's bond with the eternal, boundless divine.
Devotees who observe the Anant Chaturdashi vrat commit to doing so for fourteen consecutive years, after which a special udyapan (conclusion ceremony) is performed. This fourteen-year cycle mirrors the fourteen knots and the fourteen lokas, creating a complete spiritual circuit.
Ganesh Visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi 2026
While Anant Chaturdashi is devoted to Lord Vishnu's worship, it is equally renowned as the day of Ganesh Visarjan — the immersion ceremony that concludes the beloved Ganesh Chaturthi festival. In 2026, Ganesh Chaturthi begins on Monday, September 14, and the festival runs for ten days, culminating with the grand Visarjan on Thursday, September 25.
On this day, millions of devotees across India carry their Ganesh idols in colourful, music-filled processions to rivers, lakes, and the seashore. The immersion symbolises Lord Ganesha's return to Mount Kailash, to His parents Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, and represents the Hindu philosophical concept that all creation eventually merges back into the formless divine.
Eco-Friendly Visarjan Practices
In recent years, there has been a growing and welcome emphasis on eco-friendly Ganesh Visarjan. Traditional plaster-of-Paris idols and chemical paints can severely pollute water bodies, harm aquatic life, and contaminate drinking water sources. Here are some mindful practices devotees can adopt:
Use idols made of natural clay (shadu mati) that dissolve harmlessly in water.
Choose idols painted with natural, non-toxic colours derived from turmeric, sandalwood, or vegetable dyes.
Perform symbolic visarjan at home by immersing the idol in a bucket or tub of water, then using the clay in your garden.
Participate in community visarjan tanks set up by municipal authorities to prevent direct river or lake pollution.
Avoid immersing non-biodegradable decorations, plastic items, or thermocol into water bodies.
By choosing eco-friendly practices, we honour both Lord Ganesha and the natural world He sustains — a form of seva in itself.
Serve the sacred cow as an act of dharma and devotion — contribute to Gau Seva through Daanyam.
The Anant Chaturdashi puja is an elaborate and deeply meaningful ritual. Here is the traditional step-by-step vidhi that devotees follow:
Rise early and bathe — Wake before sunrise, take a purifying bath, and wear clean clothes, preferably in white or yellow.
Sankalp (sacred resolve) — Sit facing east or north, take water in your right palm with akshat (rice grains), and declare your intention to observe the Anant Chaturdashi vrat for the pleasure of Lord Vishnu.
Prepare the puja sthal — Clean the puja area and spread a yellow or white cloth. Place a kalash (sacred pot) filled with water and topped with mango leaves and a coconut.
Install the Anant deity — Place an image or idol of Lord Vishnu reclining on Shesha Nag (Anant Padmanabha form). Alternatively, draw or place a representation of Shesha Nag (the fourteen-hooded serpent).
Invoke Lord Anant — Chant Vishnu mantras and invite the Lord into the image. Offer panchamrit (a mixture of milk, curd, ghee, honey, and sugar) as abhishek.
Offer fourteen types of naivedya — Prepare fourteen varieties of food offerings, which may include fruits, sweets, dry fruits, and traditional dishes. The number fourteen is central to the entire observance.
Tie the Anant Sutra — After sanctifying the fourteen-knotted thread with mantras, tie it on your right wrist (men) or left wrist (women) while chanting Lord Vishnu's name.
Recite the vrat katha — Read or listen to the Anant Chaturdashi katha (the story of Rishi Kaundinya and Sushila) with full attention and devotion.
Perform aarti — Conclude the puja with aarti using a ghee lamp, camphor, and incense. Sing or chant the Vishnu aarti.
Distribute prasad — Share the naivedya and prasad with family members and neighbours.
Observe the vrat — Maintain the fast throughout the day. Some devotees observe a complete nirjala (waterless) fast, while others consume fruits and milk.
Wear the Sutra for the full year — The Anant Sutra should remain on your wrist until the next Anant Chaturdashi, serving as a constant reminder of your connection with Lord Vishnu.
Om Anantaya Namah — I bow to the Infinite One, Lord Vishnu, who is without beginning and without end, the sustainer of all worlds.
— Vishnu Sahasranama
Spiritual Significance of Anant Chaturdashi
Anant Chaturdashi occupies a unique place in Hindu spirituality because it weaves together two powerful themes: the worship of the infinite divine (Lord Vishnu as Anant) and the graceful release of attachment (Ganesh Visarjan). Together, these themes teach us that while the divine is ever-present and boundless, the forms through which we worship are temporary — and letting go of form to embrace the formless is the highest act of devotion.
The fourteen knots of the Anant Sutra remind us that Lord Vishnu pervades all fourteen lokas — from the highest celestial realms to the netherworlds. By wearing the Sutra, the devotee affirms that no matter where they are, they are within the protective embrace of the Infinite.
Observing this vrat for fourteen consecutive years is said to grant the devotee moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death), along with material prosperity, family well-being, and protection from misfortune. It is a vrat that rewards both worldly and spiritual aspirations.
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Anant Chaturdashi 2026 falls on Thursday, September 25. The Chaturdashi tithi of Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha begins at approximately 11:18 PM IST on September 24 and ends at approximately 11:06 PM IST on September 25.
What is the connection between Anant Chaturdashi and Ganesh Visarjan?
Anant Chaturdashi is the tenth and final day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. While the day is dedicated to worshipping Lord Vishnu in His Anant form, it is also when devotees perform Ganesh Visarjan — the ceremonial immersion of Ganesh idols in water. Both observances fall on the same Chaturdashi tithi of Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha, making it a day of double spiritual significance.
Can I observe Anant Chaturdashi vrat for just one year?
Traditionally, the Anant Chaturdashi vrat is observed for fourteen consecutive years, after which an udyapan (conclusion) ceremony is performed. However, even observing the vrat for a single year with sincere devotion is considered meritorious. If you begin the fourteen-year cycle, it is important to maintain the commitment each year.
What should I eat during Anant Chaturdashi vrat?
Devotees observing the Anant Chaturdashi vrat typically fast during the day and consume a single meal in the evening after completing the puja. During the fast, fruits, milk, and dry fruits are permitted. Some devotees observe a stricter nirjala (waterless) fast. Grains, salt, and regular meals are avoided until the puja and katha are complete.
Explore Anant Chaturdashi 2026 festival details, regional traditions, and celebration guides.