Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 fasting: Essential Dos and Don'ts to follow

This year, Ganesh Chaturthi is being celebrated on September 7. The festival spans 10 days, from Ganesh Chaturthi to Ganesh Visarjan, honoring Lord Ganesha, who is believed to remove obstacles from his devotees' lives.

Daily worship rituals for Lord Ganesha are central to the celebrations. If you are bringing Bappa home, it’s important to follow some rituals. From September 7 to September 17, devotees should not skip the daily puja rituals.

Each day, wake up early, take a bath, and wear clean clothes. Before eating, offer Ganpati Bappa fresh flowers, light a diya in front of him, chant a few mantras, and present him with Modak. Keep the worship area uncluttered, and ensure that the prasad is offered to Lord Ganesha before anyone else.


On Visarjan day, at the end of the 10-day celebration, take special care when handling the idol. Avoid damaging the idol while transferring it to the immersion site, and do not break or forcefully push it into the water. Celebrate with chants of "Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhachya Varshi Lavkar Ya."

Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 Fasting Do's and Don'ts

There are different types of fasting observed by devotees during the festival. If your health permits and you are determined, you can practice Nirjala Upavasa, where both food and water are avoided. Of course, it’s not feasible to observe Nirjala Upavasa for the entire 10 days, but you can do this type of fasting on the first day and on the day of Visarjan. However, consult your doctor before attempting this strict form of fasting. Alternatively, like many others, you can avoid food while continuing to take fluids.

Some devotees prefer to maintain a Sattvik diet throughout the 10 days while Lord Ganesha is present in the home.

Regardless of the type of fasting you observe, do not consume non-vegetarian food either inside or outside the home. It’s also advisable to avoid garlic and onions during this period.

Additionally, keeping spices and oil to a minimum is recommended. Many devotees prefer to replace common salt with rock salt during the festival.