Ganesh Chaturthi 2026गणेश चतुर्थी
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 is on Monday, September 14, 2026, with visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi, September 25, 2026. The birth story of Ganesha, sthapana, modak bhog and the visarjan tradition.
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Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: all the dates
| Day | Date |
|---|---|
| Ganesh Chaturthi (sthapana) | Monday, September 14, 2026 |
| Anant Chaturdashi (visarjan) | Friday, September 25, 2026 |
The story of Ganesh Chaturthi
Parvati made a boy from the turmeric paste of her own body and gave him life, asking him to guard her door while she bathed. When Shiva returned and the child refused him entry, not knowing him, Shiva in anger struck off his head. Seeing Parvati’s grief, Shiva sent his ganas to bring the head of the first creature they found facing north, and an elephant’s head was placed upon the boy. So Ganesha rose again, and Shiva gave him the boon that no work anywhere would begin without his name. The full katha of the birth of Ganesha tells it whole.
Ganesh Chaturthi is the day of that birth, kept in Bhadrapada. Clay murtis come home in procession, are given prana pratishtha, and receive modak and durva grass for one and a half, three, five, seven or ten days as the family keeps it. On Anant Chaturdashi the same murti is carried to water and immersed with the cry of Ganpati Bappa Morya, pudhchya varshi lavkar ya: come again soon next year. The clay returns to the water it came from, which is the whole teaching of the festival.
How Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated
| Sthapana | the murti is brought home and installed in the madhyahna muhurat, with prana pratishtha and shodashopachara puja. |
| Modak and durva | twenty one modak and twenty one durva blades are the beloved offering, with red hibiscus and sindoor. |
| Aarti | Sukhkarta Dukhharta morning and evening, and the Ganpati Atharvashirsha where families keep it. |
| Visarjan | on the chosen day the murti is immersed; many now keep clay murtis and immerse at home to protect the water. |
Maharashtra keeps the grandest ten days, from Lalbaugcha Raja in Mumbai to the Pune mandals; Goa keeps it as Chavath with the matoli canopy of fruit; and Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra keep Vinayaka Chaturthi with kozhukattai and clay murtis.
Ganesh Chaturthi checklist: what to arrange in advance
The non-perishable samagri you can order ahead of the day. Each link opens an Amazon search for that item in your own country’s store.
Fresh items, flowers, fruit, sweets and leaves, are best bought from your local market on the day.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Ganesh Chaturthi in 2026?
Ganesh Chaturthi is on Monday, September 14, 2026, and the visarjan of Anant Chaturdashi falls on September 25, 2026.
What time is the Ganesh sthapana muhurat?
The murti is installed in the madhyahna (midday) window, roughly the middle third of the day, which depends on your local sunrise and sunset. Check the daily Panchang for your city.
How many days is Ganesh Chaturthi kept?
One and a half, three, five, seven or ten days, by family tradition. The tenth day is Anant Chaturdashi, when the largest public mandals immerse their murtis.
Why should the moon not be seen on Ganesh Chaturthi?
The katha says the moon laughed at Ganesha and was cursed, so seeing the moon on this Chaturthi night is said to bring mithya dosha, false blame. Those who see it recite the Syamantaka katha of Krishna as the remedy.
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Dates are verified against authoritative Panchang sources (Drik Panchang, New Delhi). Traditions vary by family and region; for muhurat and puja vidhi please also consult your family panditji.