Hindu festival
Ganesh Chaturthi
Also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, Ganeshotsava.
In short
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, on the fourth tithi of the waxing moon in Bhadrapada. Clay images are installed and worshipped for one to ten days, then immersed, invoking blessings for new beginnings.
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When is Ganesh Chaturthi?
- This year’s date
- Set by the panchang each year from the rule below. Godify shows a specific date only once it is confirmed against an authoritative panchang — never guessed.
- Tithi / rule
- Shukla Chaturthi (4th tithi of the waxing moon) of the month of Bhadrapada
- Calendar
- Lunar calendar (tithi-based)
- Deity
- Ganesha
The story
Ganesh Chaturthi marks the birth of Ganesha, the elephant-headed lord of beginnings and remover of obstacles, worshipped first before any new undertaking.
The festival is at once devotional and joyously communal — most vividly in Maharashtra — as homes and public pandals install Ganesha, worship him daily, and then carry him in procession to be immersed, asking him to return the following year.
How it’s celebrated
Clay images of Ganesha are installed at home and in pandals, worshipped daily with modak offerings and Om Gam Ganapataye Namah, and immersed in water (visarjan) after one to ten days.
A mantra to mark the day
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
oṃ gaṃ gaṇapataye namaḥ
I bow to Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and lord of beginnings.
Temples for Ganesh Chaturthi
More Hindu festivals
About Ganesh Chaturthi
When is Ganesh Chaturthi?
On the Shukla Chaturthi (4th tithi of the waxing moon) of Bhadrapada. The exact Gregorian date is set by the panchang each year.
Which mantra is chanted on Ganesh Chaturthi?
Om Gam Ganapataye Namah, invoking Ganesha as the remover of obstacles and lord of beginnings.
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