Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Date & Visarjan Muhurat

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 falls on August 24, 2026 (Monday) — the 4th tithi (Chaturthi) of the waxing fortnight of Bhadrapada month (Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi). It is the largest Ganesha festival of the year, celebrated for 10 days with the idol installed at home and in public pandals on Day 1 and immersed (Visarjan) on the 10th day — Anant Chaturdashi (September 2, 2026). The festival is celebrated most intensely in Maharashtra (where it was popularized by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1893 as a unifying public event during the independence movement), Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Goa.

Reviewed by Dr. Meenakshi Sharma, M.A. Sanskrit & Vedic Studies, Varanasi — as of May 2026.

In Vedic astrology, Ganesha governs Ketu — the south node of the Moon, associated with past-life karma, moksha, and the spiritual path. Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi is the single most auspicious tithi for Ganesha installation because the Ganesha Purana identifies this as the day Ganesha himself was born (from Parvati's body) and received from Shiva the boon of being worshipped first before all other deities. Check your Ketu placement and how Ganesha remedies can address karmic obstacles with the free birth chart calculator.

Day | Date | Event

• Day 1 — August 24, 2026 — Ganesh Chaturthi — Idol Installation (Sthapana)
• Days 2-9 — August 25 — September 1 — Daily worship, Aarti morning and evening
• Day 5 — August 28, 2026 — Panch Diwshi Visarjan (5-day immersion option)
• Day 7 — August 30, 2026 — Saat Diwshi Visarjan (7-day option)
• Day 10 — September 2, 2026 — Anant Chaturdashi — Grand Visarjan

Two origin stories exist. The Shiva Purana version: Parvati created Ganesha from the dirt/turmeric of her body and placed him as a guard at the entrance while she bathed. Shiva, returning home, did not recognize this new figure and a battle ensued — Shiva ultimately beheaded Ganesha. Parvati's distress was so great that Shiva sent his attendants to find the head of the first animal they encountered sleeping with its head facing north — they found an elephant. Shiva placed the elephant head on Ganesha's body and restored him to life, declaring him the first among all deities, always to be worshipped before any other god.

The Mudgala Purana version: Ganesha was born directly as the son of Shiva and Parvati on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi, emerging fully formed, with the elephant head. Shiva immediately granted him the boon of Prathamapujya (the first to be worshipped in all ceremonies).

Installation Muhurat (Sthapana) for August 24, 2026:

The idol installation should happen during the Madhyanna period — midday, when the Chaturthi tithi is active. The Chaturthi tithi begins and ends at specific times on August 24-25; the installation should happen when the Chaturthi tithi is active. Verify the exact window with a 2026 Panchang for your city.

Sthapana Vidhi (installation method): 1. Clean the home thoroughly; purify the installation space with Gangajal 2. Place the Ganesha idol on a wooden seat covered with red cloth 3. Prana Pratishtha (life-installation mantra): this is the most important ritual — the Pandit chants specific Vedic mantras while the Ganesha idol is installed, after which it is considered a living divine presence. Without Prana Pratishtha, the idol is a statue; with it, it is Ganesha himself 4. Perform Shodashopachara Puja (16-element worship) 5. Offer 21 Durva grass blades and 21 Modak (Ganesha's most beloved food) 6. First Aarti: Sukhakarta Dukhaharta (the Marathi Ganesh Aarti by Sant Ramdas)

Each of the 10 days: morning Aarti and offering, evening Aarti and offering. Daily offerings for Ganesha: Modak or coconut sweet, Durva grass, red flowers (hibiscus, red roses), Sindoor (red powder), and incense. The mantra for daily practice: Om Gam Ganapataye Namah — 108 times each morning.

Major auspicious days during the 10-day period: 1. Day 3: Ganesh Chaturthi minor Puja — recite the complete Ganesh Purana extract 2. Day 5 (August 28): Panch Diwshi Visarjan option (for families who keep the idol for only 5 days) 3. Day 9 (September 1): Final major Aarti before Visarjan preparation 4. Day 10 (September 2): Grand Visarjan

The Visarjan (immersion) of the Ganesha idol in water is the emotionally and spiritually central moment of the festival. The Visarjan ceremony:

1. Final Shodashopachara Puja on the morning of Day 10 2. Uttarpuja (concluding worship) — formally thanking Ganesha for his 10-day presence and requesting his departure 3. Procession to the immersion point — traditionally a river, lake, or sea. In 2026 for Mumbai: the Girgaon Chowpatty beach is the primary immersion site. For other cities: local rivers or municipal immersion tanks 4. The cry of Ganpati Bappa Morya! Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya! ("Ganesh father/lord! Come again soon next year!") — one of the most moving collective prayers in Indian religious life 5. Immersion of the idol 6. Return home, closing the festival cycle

Anant Chaturdashi Visarjan Muhurat 2026 (September 2): Verify the exact Shubh Muhurat for your city — typically during daytime hours to avoid nighttime immersion.

Ganpati Bappa Morya is the chant specific to the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Maharashtra and Western India. Ganpati = Ganesha (lord of the Ganas, Shiva's troops); Bappa = father/revered elder (Marathi affectionate term); Morya = a 15th-century Ganesha saint from Chinchwad (near Pune) whose devotion was so complete that his name became permanently associated with Ganesha. The full chant Ganpati Bappa Morya! Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya! combines the traditional invocation with the prayer for Ganesha's return next year.