Hindu festival
Ganesh Chaturthi
Also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, Ganeshotsava.
Why is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated?
In short
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of beginnings and remover of obstacles. Devotees welcome clay images of him into homes and public pavilions, honour him with prayers and sweets for several days, then carry him to water for a joyful immersion, asking his blessing before every new venture.
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Ganesh Chaturthi at a glance
- Ganesh Chaturthi 2026
- Sunday, 13 September 2026in 3 days
- Tithi / rule
- Shukla Chaturthi (4th tithi of the waxing moon) of the month of Bhadrapada
- Calendar
- Lunar calendar (tithi-based)
- Deity
- Ganesha
- Significance
- The birthday of Ganesha, the elephant-headed remover of obstacles and lord of beginnings.
- Region
- Celebrated across India, most grandly in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
The story of Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi marks the birthday of Ganesha, the beloved elephant-headed god who is honoured first before every other deity and at the start of every new undertaking. The fullest account of how he came to be is told in the Shiva Purana, in the section known as the Rudra Samhita, Kumara Khanda, and it begins not with a god but with a mother who wanted a child entirely her own.
The goddess Parvati was preparing to bathe. Her husband Shiva's attendants answered only to Shiva, and she wished for a guardian who belonged to her alone. So, the tradition tells, she gathered the fragrant paste and unguents from her own body, shaped them into the form of a beautiful boy, and breathed life into him. She called him her son and set him at the door with a single, simple instruction: let no one enter while she bathed.
How is Ganesh Chaturthi 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.
Characters in the story
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
Why is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated?
It celebrates the birth of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of beginnings and the remover of obstacles. Devotees welcome him into homes and public pavilions, worship him for one to eleven days, and ask his blessing before any new venture, since he is traditionally honoured first among all deities.
What is the story of Ganesh Chaturthi?
As told in the Shiva Purana, Parvati created a boy from paste taken from her own body and set him to guard her door. Not recognising him, Shiva beheaded the boy when refused entry. To restore Parvati's grieving son, Shiva gave him an elephant's head and named him Ganesha.
Who is worshipped on Ganesh Chaturthi?
Ganesha, also called Ganapati or Vinayaka, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati. He is revered as the lord of beginnings and the remover of obstacles, which is why he is invoked first at the start of prayers, journeys, weddings and any important new undertaking.
How is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated?
Families and communities install clay images of Ganesha, decorate them, and offer daily prayers, flowers and sweets such as modak, his favourite. Devotional singing and gatherings continue for several days. The festival ends with visarjan, a joyful procession in which the image is carried to water and immersed.
When is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated?
It falls on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, usually in late August or September. The main day is Chaturthi itself, and celebrations often run for ten days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi with the grand immersion of the images.
Why does Ganesha have an elephant head?
According to the Shiva Purana, Shiva beheaded the boy guarding Parvati's door, not knowing he was her son. To bring him back to life and console the grieving Parvati, Shiva sent his attendants to fetch the head of the first creature they found, which was an elephant, and placed it upon the boy.
Why should you not look at the moon on Ganesh Chaturthi?
A tradition says Ganesha cursed the moon for laughing at him, decreeing that anyone who gazes at it on this night would face false accusations. The Bhagavata Purana links this to Krishna, who was wrongly accused of stealing the Syamantaka gem after seeing the moon, and later cleared.
What is the meaning of Ganesh visarjan?
Visarjan is the immersion of Ganesha's clay image in water at the close of the festival. It marks his return to the cosmos, taking away devotees' obstacles and misfortunes. The procession is joyful rather than mournful, with singing and prayers for his swift return the following year.
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