Ganesha Chaturthi 2026 Date

Ganesha Chaturthi

Less a birthday than a ten-day houseguest visit: a clay Ganesha is installed at home, fed modaks, and walked to a river on Anant Chaturdashi for immersion. Maratha king Shivaji used it to rally his subjects against the Mughals; Lokmanya Tilak revived it as a public festival in 1893 to sidestep British bans on assembly.

About Ganesha Chaturthi

The puja is timed to Madhyahna — midday — because Ganesha is believed to have been born then. The full rite is Shodashopachara, sixteen prescribed steps of welcome and offering, and 21 kinds of leaves (patras) are placed at his feet. One firm rule: do not look at the moon tonight. The Vrat Katha says Krishna himself was falsely accused of stealing the Syamantaka jewel after glimpsing the Bhadrapada Chaturthi moon — sighting it brings Mithya Dosha, a slur of false theft. Households choose how long Ganesha stays: immersion is on an odd-numbered day — 1½, 3, 5, 7 or 11 days in. At farewell, Maharashtrians place a spoonful of curd in his palm — a guest given curd-rice is sure to return.

Ganesha Chaturthi Dates in 2026

• 14 Sept 2026Monday