Festival guide
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi, the fourth day of the bright half of Bhadrapada, celebrates the birth of Ganesha. In Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Andhra it begins a festival of up to ten days that ends on Anant Chaturdashi.
Ganesh Chaturthi dates
| Year | Date | Tithi and its timings |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday 14 September | Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi 14 Sept, 07:07 → 15 Sept, 07:44 |
| 2027 | Saturday 4 September | Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi 3 Sept, 14:19 → 4 Sept, 12:26 |
Dates for New Delhi, India; times in Asia/Kolkata. Observed by the rule: tithi at midday.
Also known as: Vinayaka Chaturthi, Ganeshotsav.
Story and significance
Parvati created Ganesha from sandal paste and set him to guard her door. When Shiva, not knowing the boy, beheaded him, he restored him to life with an elephant’s head and made him lord of the ganas and the first to be worshipped.
How Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated
- Installing a clay Ganesha at home or in community pandals (sthapana) at the midday muhurat
- Offering modak, durva grass and red flowers
- Daily aarti — “Sukhakarta Dukhaharta” in Maharashtra
- Not looking at the Moon on this night, according to tradition
- Immersion (visarjan) after 1½, 3, 5, 7 or 10 days
Recite on Ganesh Chaturthi: Ganesh Aarti — Jai Ganesh Deva
How to perform the puja: Ganesh Chaturthi Puja Vidhi (Ganesh Sthapana) — step by step, with a samagri checklist and timings.
Customs vary between regions, communities and families. Please follow the guidance of your family priest or local temple for rituals and timings.
Frequently asked questions
When is Ganesh Chaturthi 2026?
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 falls on Monday, 14 September 2026, for New Delhi. Choose your city above to see the date for your location.
When is Ganesh Chaturthi 2027?
Ganesh Chaturthi 2027 falls on Saturday, 4 September 2027, for New Delhi. Choose your city above to see the date for your location.
Why does the date of Ganesh Chaturthi change every year?
Ganesh Chaturthi is fixed by the lunar calendar — the Shukla Paksha tithi 4 of Bhadrapada (amanta calendar) — not the Gregorian calendar. Lunar months drift against solar dates, so the festival moves by up to a few weeks from year to year.
Can Ganesh Chaturthi fall on different dates in India and abroad?
Yes. The rule depends on the tithi at a particular time of day at your location, so a tithi that begins just before sunrise in India may begin after sunrise in North America, moving the observance by a day.