Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival. It is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha. Chaturthi is the fourth lunar day (tithi). Ganesh or Ganapati or Vinayaka is another name for Ganesha. He has a human body, with a big elephant head. Ganesha is worshipped as the remover of obstacles, the deity of wisdom, prosperity and new beginnings.
What is the date and time of Ganesh Chaturthi in 2026?
How is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated?
Ganesh Chaturthi is a 10-day festival. However, its duration depends on community tradition. It can be celebrated publicly and privately as well. This festival starts with bringing a beautiful, eco-friendly idol of Lord Ganesha made from natural shadu mati clay. Red or yellow cloth can be worn on the idol. It is placed on a wooden stand at homes and community pandals. According to some Hindu traditions and Vastu belief that, a left-trunk Ganesha idol is suitable for Ganesh Chaturthi at home. It is placed in the northeast (Ishan Kona) corner of your home or facing the main entrance from the inside.
The devotees clean the idol area daily and decorate it with flowers and lights. They prepare and offer food such as sweet modaks, laddoos, coconut, and fruits as prasad. They also do aarti, pray, and sing bhajans. Ganesh Aarti can be performed twice a day. Many devotees observe a fast (vrat) on Ganesh Chaturthi. The Ganesh Chaturthi fast is broken at night after moonrise. However, there is no single rule for when everyone must break the fast.
Ganesh Visarjan
People keep a Ganesha idol at home or in a public pandal for 1.5, 3, 5, 7 or 10 days. Ganesh Visarjan is the concluding ritual of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival where the idol (murti) of Lord Ganesha is immersed in a water body like a river, lake or the sea. After the final prayer for a farewell, people move the idol in a devotional procession, chanting the "Ganpati Bappa Morya" mantra on the final Ganesh Visarjan day. The Ganesha idol is immersed in a river or any artificial water body while praying for his return next year.
What should you avoid on Ganesh Chaturthi?
It is believed that you should avoid seeing the moon on Ganesh Chaturthi. You should not consume non-vegetarian food, alcohol, onions, and garlic. You also should not taste the food or prasad before offering it to Lord Ganesha. It is the time when Lord Ganesha is present in your home and life. However, God is always with us and watches us, but we cannot see Him due to our sins and ignorance.
When and who started the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration?
It is traditionally believed that Ganesh is the son of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. The festival has ancient roots. It was promoted as a public celebration by Maratha rulers, including the Peshwas. Indian freedom fighter Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak started celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi as a public festival in 1893. He started Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav in Pune as a large public festival. The festival helped unite people and stand against British rule.
Where is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated?
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all across India. It is celebrated publicly and at home. But its largest and most vibrant public celebrations are centered in Maharashtra, especially Mumbai and Pune; Telangana, Hyderabad; Karnataka, Bengaluru; Goa; and Tamil Nadu.
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all over India with great joy, devotion, and energy. The main rituals of Ganesh Chaturthi are the installation of the Ganesha idol, a traditional 16-step form of worship (Shodashopachara), daily aartis, and final immersion. Please select an eco-friendly Ganesha idol made of natural, biodegradable material or plant fibers and painted with organic dyes. This will help protect the environment while allowing you to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha. Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all!