Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Date, Visarjan, Puja Muhurat, Vidhi & Decoration Ideas

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 is almost here. If you're bringing Bappa home this year, here's everything you need in one place — the exact date, puja muhurat, visarjan date, puja vidhi, samagri list, and decoration ideas for home. 

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 Date 

The Hindu calendar follows both the moon and the sun, so festival dates shift every year. This year, the Chaturthi tithi starts on the morning of 14 September. It continues until the next morning. The tithi covers the midday (madhyahna) period, which is the most auspicious time for Ganpati sthapana.  

So, the festival is observed on Monday, 14 September 2026, across India. A few calendars list 15 September instead. This happens because the tithi runs into the next sunrise. But the sthapana and main celebrations fall on 14 September. 

How Many Days Left for Ganesh Chaturthi 2026? 

As of today, there are 6 days left for Ganesh Chaturthi 2026. This count goes down daily — check the date at the top of this page if you're reading it closer to the festival. Use this time to finish idol shopping and book your pandit early, since demand for eco-friendly idols and puja samagri peaks in the last two weeks. 

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 Start and End Date 

Ganeshotsav is a 10-day festival that starts on Chaturthi and ends on Anant Chaturdashi. 

• Start date: Monday, 14 September 2026 (Ganesh Sthapana) 

• End date: Friday, 25 September 2026 (Anant Chaturdashi / final visarjan) 

Not every household keeps the idol for the full 10 days. Some families follow their own traditions. Immersion can happen after 1.5 days, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, or the full 10 days. The duration you choose doesn't matter. The visarjan mantra and rituals stay the same. 

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 Visarjan Date 

The main, community-wide Ganesh Visarjan falls on Anant Chaturdashi, Friday, 25 September 2026. This is the day the 10-day Ganeshotsav ends. Some households immerse the idol earlier instead (Dedh, Gauri, or Panchami visarjan). Here are those dates: 

• 1.5 days (Dedh): 15 September 2026 

• 3 days: 16 September 2026 

• 5 days (Ganesh Panchami cycle): 18 September 2026 

• 7 days: 20 September 2026 

• 10 days (Anant Chaturdashi): 25 September 2026 

Many cities offer artificial ponds for eco-friendly immersion — check with your municipal corporation for the nearest one. 

Ganesh Chaturthi Puja Muhurat 2026 

The Madhyahna Kaal (midday period) is the most auspicious time for Ganpati Sthapana. This is because Lord Ganesha is believed to have been born at midday. 

Moon-sighting caution: Don't look at the moon on Ganesh Chaturthi — it's linked to Mithya Dosha (false blame). Avoid it between roughly 9:01 AM and 8:09 PM on 14 September 2026. (Full story in the FAQs below.) 

Note: Muhurat timings can shift by a few minutes depending on your city. Cross-check with a local Panchang before finalising your puja time. 

Ganesh Chaturthi Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step) 

Here is a simple version you can follow at home. It covers all 16 steps of the Shodashopachara puja. 

1. Clean and purify the space — Sweep, mop, and sprinkle Gangajal around the puja area a day before. 

2. Bring the idol home — Ideally in the morning, before the Sthapana muhurat, with an aarti at the door. 

3. Sankalp — Take a vow of worship, stating the date, place, and purpose of the puja. 

4. Pranapratishtha — Invoke divine life into the idol through mantras (usually done by a pandit). 

5. Dhyana and Avahana — Meditate on and formally welcome Lord Ganesha. 

6. Asana, Padya, Arghya, Achamana — Offer a seat, and water for the feet and hands. 

7. Snana — A ceremonial bath for the idol, followed by fresh clothes (vastra). 

8. Gandha, Akshata, Pushpa — Offer sandalwood paste, rice grains, flowers, and the 21 patri (sacred leaves) along with durva grass. 

9. Dhoop and Deep — Light incense and a lamp. 

10. Naivedya — Offer 21 modaks (or any sweet you have), fruits, and coconut as prasad. 

11. Mantra chanting — Recite the Ganapati mantra "Om Gam Ganapataye Namah" and the Ganesh Atharvashirsha. 

12. Aarti — Conclude with the aarti, followed by daily morning and evening aarti until visarjan. 

On the day of visarjan, repeat the aarti. Circle the idol three times. Then immerse it while chanting "Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Laukarya" — come again next year. 

Ganesh Chaturthi Pooja Samagri List 

Keep this list handy before you shop: 

For Sthapana: 

• Eco-friendly clay Ganesha idol 

• Red cloth / asana for the seat 

• Kalash (with water, mango leaves, coconut) 

• Bell (ghanti) 

Puja essentials: 

• Turmeric (haldi), kumkum, chandan (sandalwood paste) 

• Akshata (unbroken rice grains) 

• Durva grass (21 blades) — considered Ganesha's favourite offering 

• 21 Patri (sacred leaves used in the puja) 

• Red hibiscus and other fresh flowers (mogra, champa) 

• Incense sticks/dhoop and camphor 

• Ghee or oil diya 

• Betel leaves and areca nuts 

• Coconut and fresh fruits 

• Modak (steamed or fried) — at least 21 pieces for naivedya 

• A clean plate/thali to arrange all items 

Optional but common: 

• Rangoli colours for the entrance 

• Toran (door hanging) for decoration 

• Cotton wicks and matchbox 

Ganesh Chaturthi Decoration Ideas for Home 

Decoration takes up most of the festival budget and effort. Here are ideas for every style and budget. 

Simple Decoration for Ganesh Chaturthi

• A single flower garland backdrop with marigold and mango leaves 

• LED string lights around the idol platform instead of expensive lighting setups 

• A plain cloth backdrop (red, yellow, or maroon) with a rangoli in front 

• Fresh flower rangoli at the entrance — no chemical colours needed 

Eco-Friendly Decoration Ideas 

• Use a clay or paper-mache idol instead of Plaster of Paris 

• Decorate with real flowers, leaves, and fruits instead of plastic or thermocol 

• Reusable cloth backdrops and bamboo/jute torans 

• Natural clay diyas instead of electric lights 

Theme-Based Decoration 

• Nature theme: Bamboo mandap, banana leaves, coconut shells, and clay pots 

• Traditional theme: Brass lamps, marigold strings, and a wooden chowki (platform) 

• Minimalist theme: White and gold colour palette with a single statement backdrop 

Quick Shopping List for Decoration 

Whichever style you pick, these cover most home setups: Backdrop cloth, mandap/chowki, torans, fairy lights or diyas, rangoli colours, and fresh flowers. 

Read more: How to Set Up a Vaastu-Compliant Pooja Room in a New Home

Ganesh Chaturthi Pooja Timing at Home 

Can't make the midday muhurat? These windows also work for a home puja on 14 September 2026: 

• Morning: After sunrise, before 10:30 AM — for daily aarti and simple worship 

• Evening: After sunset — for daily aarti during the days the idol stays home 

Avoid starting the main sthapana puja during Rahu Kaal — check your local Panchang for the exact window on 14 September. 

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Dates, tithi timings, and muhurat windows follow the standard Hindu Panchang. They can shift by a few minutes based on your city and your family's calendar. Please confirm exact timings with a local pandit or panchang before you finalise your puja plans.