Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 (Mon Sep 14): Date, Puja Muhurat & Vidhi

When Is Ganesh Chaturthi in 2026?

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 falls on Monday, September 14 — the Shukla Paksha Chaturthi of Bhadrapada month. The Chaturthi tithi begins at approximately 7:06 AM IST on September 14 and ends at approximately 7:44 AM IST on September 15. The most auspicious window for Ganapati Sthapana (idol installation) and puja is the Madhyahna Muhurat, 11:02 AM to 1:31 PM IST (New Delhi), when Lord Ganesha is believed to have been born. The ten-day Ganeshotsav concludes with Ganesh Visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi, Friday, September 25, 2026.

Known also as Vinayaka Chaturthi, this festival celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha — the Vighnaharta (remover of obstacles), the Pratham Pujya (first-worshipped deity), and the patron of wisdom, learning, and new beginnings. From intimate home pujas in North India to the massive public pandals of Maharashtra, Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most widely observed Hindu festivals across India and the diaspora.

Key Dates at a Glance

Tithi timings are converted from Drik Panchang (Houston render, +10:30 to IST) and independently corroborated by SmartPuja.com (IST-native). Muhurat times are city-specific — see the table below for your city.

What Is the Best Puja Muhurat for My City?

Ganesh Chaturthi puja is traditionally performed during Madhyahna Kala — the midday period in the Hindu five-fold division of daytime — because Lord Ganesha is believed to have appeared at that hour. Madhyahna is the most auspicious window for both Ganapati Sthapana (installing the murti) and the Shodashopachara puja. If you miss the Madhyahna window, Pradosh Kaal (evening twilight) is the secondary option.

All muhurat times above are sourced directly from Drik Panchang's city-specific renders for September 14, 2026.

How to Perform Ganesh Chaturthi Puja at Home

The traditional home puja follows the Shodashopachara (16-step) format. Here is a simplified sequence that covers the essentials for a sincere home worship:

1. Preparation (a day before): Clean and decorate the puja space. Arrange a wooden chowki or platform, cover it with a red or yellow cloth, and place a bed of rice (akshata) on it.
2. Murti Sthapana: During the Madhyahna Muhurat, bring the Ganesha murti home. Place it on the prepared platform, facing east or north. Sprinkle Ganga jal to purify the space.
3. Prana Pratishtha (invocation): Chant the Ganapati Atharvashirsha or Om Gam Ganapataye Namah while touching the murti's heart area with akshata, invoking the divine presence into the idol.
4. Shodashopachara offerings: Offer the 16 upacharas — sandalwood paste (chandan), kumkum, haldi, flowers (red hibiscus preferred), 21 blades of durva grass, incense (dhoop), a ghee lamp (deepam), and naivedya.
5. Naivedya (food offering): Offer modak (Lord Ganesha's favourite sweet), laddoo, coconut, jaggery, and seasonal fruits. Traditionally, 21 modaks are offered.
6. Aarti: Perform aarti with a ghee lamp, singing Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh Deva or the Sukhakarta Dukhaharta aarti (popular in Maharashtra). Circumambulate the murti.
7. Daily worship: Until Visarjan, offer fresh flowers, durva, a lit lamp, and naivedya morning and evening. Recite the Ganapati Atharvashirsha or Ganesha Chalisa daily.
8. Visarjan: On Anant Chaturdashi (Sep 25) or your chosen day (1.5, 3, 5, or 7 days), perform a final aarti, seek forgiveness for any errors in worship, and immerse the murti in a water body with the chant Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya!

What Is the 10-Day Visarjan Schedule?

Not every household keeps Ganpati Bappa for the full ten days. Depending on family tradition, you may perform Visarjan on any of these days:

The 10-day Visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi is the grandest, especially in Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad, where massive public processions carry pandal murtis to the sea or river.

Why Is Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrated?

The Shiva Purana and Mudgala Purana describe how Goddess Parvati created Ganesha from sandalwood paste and turmeric, breathing life into him and setting him as guard at her door. When Lord Shiva returned and was blocked by the boy, a conflict arose that ended with Shiva severing the child's head. To restore him, Shiva placed the head of an elephant upon the body, granted him the boon of being worshipped first among all deities (Pratham Pujya), and named him Ganapati — the lord of Shiva's ganas (attendants).

The public celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi as a community festival was popularized by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1893, who used the festival to unite people across caste and class during the Indian independence movement. Today, the Lalbaugcha Raja in Mumbai, the Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati in Pune, and the Khairatabad Ganesh in Hyderabad are among India's most visited pandals, drawing millions of devotees each year.

Why Should You Not Look at the Moon on Ganesh Chaturthi?

One of the most distinctive customs of Ganesh Chaturthi is the prohibition on sighting the moon. According to the Puranic legend, Lord Krishna was falsely accused of stealing the precious Syamantaka Mani jewel because he had inadvertently glanced at the moon on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. This curse — Mithya Dosha (false accusation) — was originally pronounced by Lord Ganesha upon Chandra (the Moon god) for mocking Ganesha's appearance.

To avoid Mithya Dosha, devotees refrain from looking at the moon on Chaturthi night. If the moon is seen accidentally, the traditional remedy is to recite the Syamantaka mantra or listen to the full Syamantaka Mani katha to neutralize the dosha.

What Are the Essential Offerings for Lord Ganesha?

• Modak — steamed or fried sweet dumplings, Ganesha's favourite naivedya. Offer 21 for the fullest blessing.
• Durva grass (doob) — offer 21 blades of three-leafed durva. It is sacred to Ganesha and mentioned in the Ganesha Atharvashirsha.
• Red flowers — hibiscus (javakusum) is most auspicious; marigold and red roses are also offered.
• Coconut, jaggery (gul), and bananas — traditional Maharashtra prasad items.
• Chandan (sandalwood paste), kumkum, and haldi — for anointing the murti.
• 21 patra (leaves) — Drik Panchang lists 21 types of sacred leaves for Ganesha puja, including bilva, tulsi, shami, and mango leaves.

What Is the Connection Between Sankashti Chaturthi and Ganesh Chaturthi?

While Ganesh Chaturthi (Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi) is the annual birthday celebration, Sankashti Chaturthi is a monthly Ganesha vrat observed on every Krishna Paksha Chaturthi throughout the year. Devotees who observe Sankashti throughout the year consider Ganesh Chaturthi the pinnacle of their annual Ganesha worship. The Sankashti vrat involves a full-day fast broken only after sighting the moon at night — a practice that deepens devotion and discipline month by month.

Can Ganesh Chaturthi Be Celebrated on September 15?

No — in 2026, the Chaturthi tithi begins at 7:06 AM on September 14 and prevails through Madhyahna Kala on that day. By the morning of September 15, Chaturthi has ended (7:44 AM). The festival and Sthapana are observed on September 14. However, families who install the murti on the 14th may keep it through the 15th for the 1.5-day (Dedh Din) tradition before performing Visarjan.

Is Ganesh Chaturthi a Public Holiday?

Yes — Ganesh Chaturthi is a gazetted holiday in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and several other states. It is also a restricted holiday for central government employees across India.

What Mantra Should I Chant During Ganesh Chaturthi Puja?

The most widely chanted mantras are Om Gam Ganapataye Namah (the Ganesha beej mantra) and the Vakratunda Mahakaya shloka. For a deeper practice, recite the Ganapati Atharvashirsha — a Vedic hymn considered the most authoritative Ganesha scripture. During aarti, the Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh Deva (Hindi tradition) or Sukhakarta Dukhaharta (Marathi tradition) are the standard hymns.

Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha / Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva Kaaryeshu Sarvada

— Ganesha Vandana — opening prayer to the curved-trunked, sun-radiant Lord for obstacle-free endeavours