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Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Date, Puja Muhurat, Visarjan and Story of Lord Ganesha
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the major Hindu festivals celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Ganesha. Worshipped as the remover of obstacles, Lord Ganesha is associated with wisdom, success, prosperity and auspicious beginnings. In 2026, Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on Monday, September 14. The Chaturthi Tithi will begin at 7:06 AM on September 14 and end at 7:44 AM on September 15.
When Is Ganesh Chaturthi 2026?
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 will be celebrated on Monday, September 14. The festival is observed on the fourth lunar day, or Chaturthi, of Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada.
According to the Panchang, the Chaturthi Tithi begins at 7:06 AM on September 14 and ends at 7:44 AM on September 15. The festival is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi in different parts of India.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 Puja Muhurat
The Madhyahna period is considered significant for Ganesh Chaturthi worship. However, the exact puja timing varies according to location.
The 2026 puja timings for some major cities are:
- New Delhi: 11:02 AM to 1:31 PM
- Mumbai: 11:20 AM to 1:48 PM
- Pune: 11:16 AM to 1:44 PM
- Noida: 11:02 AM to 1:30 PM
- Bengaluru: 11:02 AM to 1:28 PM
- Ahmedabad: 11:21 AM to 1:49 PM
- Chennai: 10:51 AM to 1:18 PM
- Hyderabad: 10:58 AM to 1:25 PM
- Kolkata: 10:18 AM to 12:46 PM
Since the puja muhurat differs from one city to another, devotees should check the Panchang for their specific location before planning the worship.
Why Is Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrated?
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, who is widely worshipped as the remover of obstacles and the deity associated with wisdom, success and auspicious beginnings.
Lord Ganesha is traditionally worshipped before starting important work or significant ventures. During Ganesh Chaturthi, devotees install Ganesha idols at homes and public pandals, perform puja and aarti, and offer flowers, fruits, sweets and other traditional offerings.
Modak, a sweet traditionally associated with Lord Ganesha, is also commonly offered during the festival. Celebrations can range from family rituals at home to large community festivals featuring decorated pandals, cultural programmes, music and processions.
History of Ganesh Chaturthi
Although the worship of Lord Ganesha has ancient roots, the modern form of public Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Maharashtra has a significant connection with Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
In 1893, Tilak played an important role in transforming Ganesh Chaturthi into a major public celebration. The festival subsequently became an important part of Maharashtra’s cultural life, particularly in cities such as Mumbai and Pune.
Today, Ganeshotsav brings together religious traditions, community participation, art, music and cultural celebrations.
The Story Behind Lord Ganesha’s Elephant Head
There are several traditional stories about the origin of Lord Ganesha. The most commonly told account is associated with Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva.
According to this traditional story, Goddess Parvati created Ganesha and asked him to guard the entrance while she bathed. When Lord Shiva returned, Ganesha stopped him from entering because he did not recognise him.
A conflict followed, during which Shiva severed Ganesha’s head. Goddess Parvati was devastated and demanded that her son be brought back to life.
Shiva then instructed his followers to bring the head of the first living being they encountered. They returned with the head of an elephant, which Shiva placed on Ganesha’s body. Ganesha was restored to life and became the elephant-headed deity worshipped today.
The elephant is traditionally associated with qualities such as wisdom, strength and loyalty, while Lord Ganesha’s role as the remover of obstacles and the lord of beginnings remains central to his symbolism.
Why Do Devotees Bring Ganesha Idols Home?
Bringing a Ganesha idol home during Ganesh Chaturthi represents welcoming the deity into the household. Devotees seek Lord Ganesha’s blessings for wisdom, success, prosperity and the removal of obstacles.
Families perform prayers, aarti and offer bhog during the period of worship. The duration for which an idol is kept at home varies according to family and regional traditions.
Some families keep the idol for one and a half days, while others observe the festival for five to seven days, 10 days or longer.
When Is Ganesh Visarjan 2026?
The traditional 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi celebration concludes with Ganesh Visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi. In 2026, the principal Visarjan day will be Friday, September 25.
Before immersion, devotees often carry the Ganesha idol in a procession accompanied by devotional chants, music and dancing. Visarjan marks the conclusion of Lord Ganesha’s stay with his devotees and is traditionally understood as his departure or return.
However, not every Ganesha idol is immersed on September 25. Families and communities following shorter traditions may perform Visarjan earlier, depending on their chosen duration of worship.
Significance of Ganesh Visarjan
Ganesh Visarjan is more than the concluding ritual of the festival. Devotees welcome Lord Ganesha into their homes and communities, worship him and then return the physical idol to nature.
The dissolution of the idol represents the temporary nature of material form and is associated with the cycle of arrival, departure and renewal.
In recent years, environmental concerns have also become an important part of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. Greater emphasis is being placed on clay idols, natural colours and designated immersion facilities to reduce the impact of idol immersion on water bodies.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: At a Glance
When is Ganesh Chaturthi 2026?
Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on Monday, September 14, 2026.
When does the Chaturthi Tithi begin?
The Chaturthi Tithi begins at 7:06 AM on September 14.
When does the Chaturthi Tithi end?
The Tithi ends at 7:44 AM on September 15.
What is the Ganesh Chaturthi puja muhurat?
The puja timing varies by location. In New Delhi, the Madhyahna puja muhurat is from 11:02 AM to 1:31 PM.
When is Ganesh Visarjan 2026?
The principal Visarjan for the traditional 10-day celebration will take place on Friday, September 25, 2026, on Anant Chaturdashi.
Why is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated?
The festival marks the birth of Lord Ganesha, who is worshipped as the remover of obstacles and the deity of wisdom, success and auspicious beginnings.
Ganesh Chaturthi brings together devotion, family traditions, community celebrations and India’s rich cultural heritage. From welcoming Lord Ganesha into homes and pandals to bidding him farewell through Visarjan, the festival continues to hold a special place in Indian religious and cultural life.
Ganpati Bappa Morya!
