Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Confused between September 13 and 14? Know the right date

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 will be celebrated on Monday, September 14. The confusion over September 13 arises because the Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi tithi begins on the evening of September 13 and continues through September 14. In New Delhi, the Chaturthi tithi begins at 8:36 PM on September 13 and ends at 9:14 PM on September 14.

Therefore, devotees should mark Monday, September 14, as Ganesh Chaturthi. The date is not September 13 simply because the Chaturthi tithi begins that evening. Ganesh Chaturthi is observed on the day designated by the Hindu calendar for the festival, with the puja performed during the prescribed daytime muhurat.

Why Ganesh Chaturthi falls on September 14

Ganesh Chaturthi is observed on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi, the fourth day of the waxing phase of the moon in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada. Because the Hindu calendar follows lunar movements, the corresponding date on the Gregorian calendar changes every year.


In 2026, the relevant Chaturthi tithi spans two Gregorian dates, September 13 and September 14. However, the festival is listed for Monday, September 14, across Indian panchang calculations. Drik Panchang also lists September 14 as Ganesh Chaturthi for New Delhi, Mumbai and several other Indian cities.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 puja muhurat

The main Ganesh Chaturthi puja is traditionally performed during the madhyahna period, or around midday. For New Delhi, the Ganesh Chaturthi puja muhurat on September 14 is listed from 12:03 PM to 2:31 PM. The exact timing can vary by location because panchang calculations take local sunrise and other geographical factors into account.

Devotees planning Ganesh Sthapana should therefore check the panchang for their city rather than relying on a single nationwide timing. For example, Drik Panchang lists different puja windows for cities including Pune, Mumbai and New Delhi.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 festival calendar

Ganesh Chaturthi begins on September 14, after which families can follow different celebration periods depending on their traditions. Not every household keeps the idol for the same number of days.

Common observances include one-and-a-half-day, three-day, five-day and seven-day celebrations, while the major concluding day for Ganesh Visarjan is Anant Chaturdashi.

The original 10-day calendar should therefore not describe September 23 as Anant Chaturdashi. In 2026, Anant Chaturdashi falls on Friday, September 25.

Ganesh Visarjan 2026 date

Ganesh Visarjan can take place on different days depending on family and regional traditions. Some devotees perform visarjan the day after Ganesh Chaturthi, while others choose the third, fifth or seventh day. Anant Chaturdashi is the most significant day associated with the final immersion.

In 2026, Anant Chaturdashi falls on Friday, September 25. This means the commonly observed 10-day period should not be presented as ending on September 23.

Why the September 13 date appears in calendars

September 13 appears in some calculations because the Chaturthi tithi begins that evening. This does not make September 13 the Ganesh Chaturthi festival date.

For New Delhi, the tithi begins at 8:36 PM on September 13 and continues until 9:14 PM on September 14. The festival is consequently observed on September 14, with the main puja taking place during the prescribed afternoon muhurat.

For devotees planning travel, office leave, shopping, Ganesh Sthapana or community celebrations, Monday, September 14, is the date to mark on the calendar.