Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Date, Sthapana Muhurat, Puja Vidhi & Visarjan Dates

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 falls on Monday, September 14, and the most auspicious time for Ganpati Sthapana (idol installation) is the Madhyahna Muhurat from 11:02 AM to 1:31 PM. The 10-day Ganeshotsav concludes with Ganesh Visarjan on Friday, September 25  Anant Chaturdashi. Whether you are bringing Bappa home for 1.5 days or celebrating all 10 days, here is everything you need  dates, muhurat, step-by-step puja vidhi, samagri list, visarjan schedule, and FAQs.

Quick Answer (TL;DR)

• Date: Monday, September 14, 2026
• Chaturthi Tithi Begins: 7:06 AM on September 14, 2026
• Chaturthi Tithi Ends: 7:44 AM on September 15, 2026
• Sthapana Muhurat (most auspicious): 11:02 AM to 1:31 PM on September 14
• Moon avoidance window: 9:01 AM to 8:09 PM on September 14 do not view the moon
• Visarjan options: 1.5-day (Sep 15), 3-day (Sep 16), 5-day (Sep 18), 7-day (Sep 20), 10-day (Sep 25)
• Anant Chaturdashi (main Visarjan day): Friday, September 25, 2026

Why Ganesh Chaturthi Is the Biggest Festival for Your Puja Setup

Ganesh Chaturthi is the one festival where the preparation itself becomes the celebration. Families don't just perform a puja  they bring Bappa home, set up a dedicated altar, perform daily morning and evening aarti for multiple days, and then send him off with equal ceremony. This means the demand for puja samagri, decoration items, diyas, incense, flowers, and idol accessories peaks sharply in the two weeks before September 14. If you want to be ready, your puja setup should be in place by the first week of September.

The Story Behind the Festival

Lord Ganesha  the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati  is revered as Vighnaharta, the remover of obstacles, and Pratham Pujya, the deity who is worshipped before any other god in Hindu tradition. Ganesh Chaturthi marks his birth on the fourth day (Chaturthi) of the bright fortnight of the Bhadrapada month.

The festival as we know it today was popularised on a national scale by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1893, who transformed it from a private household celebration into a large public gathering as a way to unite people during the independence movement. That tradition of community celebration — the sarvajanik Ganpati, the shared pandal, the evening aarti — still defines how Maharashtra and much of India celebrate Bappa's arrival every year.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 — All Key Timings

Note on muhurat: Timings above are for Delhi/NCR (IST). They vary by 15–30 minutes depending on your city. Always cross-check with a local panchang or trusted panchang app for precise timings in your area.

Visarjan Schedule 2026 — Choose Your Duration

Most urban families in North India follow the 1.5-day format, installing the idol on Monday and performing Visarjan on Tuesday afternoon. Families in Maharashtra typically observe 5 days or the full 10 days. There is no wrong choice  the duration depends on your family tradition, vow (mannat), or the time you can genuinely commit to daily puja.

What Is the Moon-Viewing Restriction on Ganesh Chaturthi?

On Ganesh Chaturthi, viewing the moon is considered inauspicious and is associated with Mithya Dosha  a curse of false accusation. This comes from a Puranic story in which Lord Ganesha, after falling from his vehicle (a mouse), was mocked by Chandra (the Moon). Ganesha cursed the moon so that anyone who sees it on Chaturthi would face false allegations.

In 2026, the moon-avoidance window is 9:01 AM to 8:09 PM on September 14. If you accidentally spot the moon during this period, recite the Syamantaka Mani shloka as a remedy: Simhah prashenamavadhit, simho jaambavataa hatah. Suikumaarak maarodihi, tava hyesha syamantakah.

Ganpati Sthapana Vidhi — Step by Step

1. Clean and prepare the puja space a day before  sweep, mop, and decorate with flowers, torans (door hangings), and rangoli at the entrance.
2. Bring the idol home in the morning before the Sthapana Muhurat. Most families welcome Bappa with aarti at the door before bringing him inside.
3. Prepare the wooden chowki (platform)  cover it with a red or yellow cloth, place unbroken rice (akshata) underneath as a base, and sprinkle Gangajal to purify the space.
4. Place the Ganesh idol facing north or east during the Sthapana Muhurat (11:02 AM–1:31 PM).
5. Perform Prana Pratishtha  invite Lord Ganesha's divine presence into the idol by chanting mantras and offering akshata (rice) at the idol's feet.
6. Begin the Shodashopachara Puja  the 16-step worship that includes Avahana (invocation), Asana (seating), Padya (washing feet), Arghya (offering water), Snana (bath), Vastra (clothing), Gandha (sandalwood paste), Pushpa (flowers), Dhoop (incense), Deepa (lamp), Naivedy (food offering), and Visarjan (bidding farewell at the end).
7. Offer Durva grass  21 blades of Durva are considered especially sacred to Ganesha and should be offered as part of the puja.
8. Offer modak and ladoo  these are Ganesha's favourite sweets and should form the main prasad.
9. Perform morning and evening aarti daily for as many days as you keep the idol  "Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh Deva" is the most commonly sung.
10. On Visarjan day, perform a final aarti, bid farewell with the chant "Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya" (Come again soon next year, Bappa), and immerse the idol in water.

Ganesh Chaturthi Samagri List

 

Eco-Friendly Ganpati: What It Means and Why It Matters

One of the biggest trends in Ganesh Chaturthi over the past few years is the shift toward eco-friendly celebration. Traditional clay (Shadu mati or shadu clay) idols are biodegradable and dissolve naturally in water  Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols do not, and contribute to water pollution during mass Visarjan. Many municipal corporations in Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru now actively discourage PoP idols and provide artificial immersion tanks as alternatives.

For your home puja, choosing a clay idol is both environmentally responsible and, interestingly, more aligned with the original tradition  clay Ganesha idols predate PoP by centuries

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Viewing the moon on September 14. Stick to the avoidance window (9:01 AM–8:09 PM) and keep curtains drawn if your home has a direct view.
• Skipping Durva grass. Of all the special offerings for Ganesha, Durva is considered the most sacred  it should never be omitted.
• Using a PoP idol for Visarjan in a natural water body. Check your local municipal guidelines artificial immersion tanks are now available in most cities.
• Installing the idol outside the Sthapana Muhurat without reason. If you genuinely cannot manage the Madhyahna window, morning hours after sunrise are the next best option.
• Missing daily aarti. Once Bappa is installed, the commitment is to worship him twice daily  morning and evening until Visarjan. Skipping aarti on days between installation and Visarjan is considered disrespectful to the vow.

FAQs

1. When is Ganesh Chaturthi in 2026? Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 falls on Monday, September 14.

2. What is the Ganpati Sthapana muhurat for 2026? The most auspicious Madhyahna Sthapana Muhurat is from 11:02 AM to 1:31 PM on September 14, 2026.

3. When is Ganesh Visarjan in 2026? The main Visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi is Friday, September 25, 2026. Shorter options: 1.5-day (Sep 15), 3-day (Sep 16), 5-day (Sep 18), 7-day (Sep 20).

4. How many days can Ganpati be kept at home? Families traditionally keep Ganpati for 1.5, 3, 5, 7, or 10 days. The duration depends on your family tradition or vow. All durations are equally valid.

5. Why should we not see the moon on Ganesh Chaturthi? Viewing the moon is associated with Mithya Dosha  false accusation  based on a Puranic curse by Ganesha on the moon. The avoidance window in 2026 is 9:01 AM to 8:09 PM on September 14.

6. What are the main offerings for Ganesh Chaturthi puja? Modak, ladoo, Durva grass (21 blades), red hibiscus flowers, and coconut are the most important offerings.

7. What is Prana Pratishtha? Prana Pratishtha is the ritual of invoking divine presence into the idol by chanting specific mantras  it is what transforms a clay idol into a living deity for the duration of the festival.

8. What is the Ganesh Chaturthi samagri list? Key items include a Ganesh idol, wooden chowki, red cloth, Gangajal, Durva grass, akshata, modak, flowers, diya, incense, sandalwood paste, and camphor. See the full table above.

9. What is Anant Chaturdashi? Anant Chaturdashi is the 14th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada, which falls 10 days after Ganesh Chaturthi. It is the main Visarjan day for those who keep Ganpati for the full 10 days.

10. Is Ganesh Chaturthi a public holiday in 2026? It is a public holiday in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, and Andhra Pradesh. It is not a national public holiday, though it is widely celebrated across India.

11. What is an eco-friendly Ganesh idol? An eco-friendly idol is made from natural clay (Shadu mati) that dissolves in water without causing pollution, as opposed to Plaster of Paris idols that damage water bodies during Visarjan.

12. What is the mantra chanted during Ganesh Chaturthi? "Om Gan Ganapataye Namah" is the most widely chanted Ganesh mantra. The Vakratunda shloka  "Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha, Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva Kaaryeshu Sarvada"  is also recited before beginning any puja or activity during the festival.

Welcome Bappa Home This Ganesh Chaturthi

From the moment the idol enters your door to the final "Ganpati Bappa Morya" as you send him off, every element of this festival is a deliberate act of devotion. [Shop the complete Ganesh Chaturthi puja samagri and decoration essentials] to make sure everything is in place before September 14.