Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Date, tithi, puja muhurat, vrat, puja vidhi and visarjan in Mumbai

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 will be celebrated on Monday, September 14, marking the beginning of one of the most awaited festivals of the year. Ganeshotsav will see devotees welcome Lord Ganesha into homes, housing societies and public pandals across Mumbai as they seek Bappa’s blessings.

The festival begins with Ganpati Sthapana, during which devotees ceremonially install Lord Ganesha’s idol and perform Pran Pratishtha. This is followed by daily puja, aarti and offerings before the idol is eventually taken for visarjan. While some families immerse the idol after one-and-a-half, three, five or seven days, the biggest farewell takes place on Anant Chaturdashi, September 25, 2026.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 date and tithi in Mumbai

In Mumbai, Ganesh Chaturthi will be observed on September 14, 2026. According to the Mumbai Panchang, the Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi Tithi begins at 7:06 AM on September 14 and ends at 7:44 AM on September 15.


The festival is observed on September 14 as the Chaturthi Tithi falls during the recommended period for Ganesh Chaturthi puja. The Madhyahna period, or midday, holds special significance for Ganesh worship as it is associated with Lord Ganesha’s birth.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 shubh muhurat in Mumbai

For devotees in Mumbai, the Ganesh Chaturthi Puja Muhurat is from 11:20 AM to 1:48 PM on September 14. This gives devotees a little over two hours to perform the main Ganpati puja and associated rituals.

Key Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 timings for Mumbai

Ganesh Chaturthi: Monday, September 14, 2026

Chaturthi Tithi begins: 7:06 AM, September 14

Ganesh Puja Muhurat: 11:20 AM to 1:48 PM

Chaturthi Tithi ends: 7:44 AM, September 15

Anant Chaturdashi/Ganpati Visarjan: Friday, September 25, 2026

Devotees should note that muhurat calculations are location-specific. The timings mentioned above are specifically for Mumbai and should not be applied automatically to other cities.

Ganpati Sthapana and Puja Vidhi

On Ganesh Chaturthi, devotees traditionally clean their homes and prepare a dedicated space or mandap for Bappa. The area is decorated with flowers, rangoli, torans, lights and other festive elements, while a raised platform is prepared for the idol.

After taking a bath and wearing clean clothes, devotees bring the idol to the prepared space and place it on the platform during the auspicious period. Many families choose clay or eco-friendly idols for the celebrations.

The puja begins with Sankalp, through which devotees formally resolve to perform the worship. This is followed by the invocation of Lord Ganesha and Pran Pratishtha, the ceremony through which the deity is ceremonially invoked into the idol.

The idol is then worshipped with water, sandalwood paste, turmeric, kumkum, flowers and Durva grass. Durva is considered especially sacred in Ganesha worship, while red flowers are also commonly offered to Bappa.

Devotees offer modak, fruits, sweets and other naivedya. Modak holds a special place in Ganesh worship and is among the most popular offerings associated with the festival.

Depending on family traditions, the puja may also include clothes, sacred thread, incense, a lamp and other articles. Devotees may recite Ganesh mantras and the Ganesh Atharvashirsha before performing the aarti.

The puja concludes with prayers seeking Lord Ganesha’s blessings for wisdom, prosperity, happiness and freedom from obstacles. Prasad is then distributed among family members and other devotees.

Ganesh Chaturthi vrat and fasting rules

Many devotees observe a vrat or fast on Ganesh Chaturthi, although the manner of observing it can vary between households.

Some devotees observe a complete fast, while others follow phalahar, consuming fruits, milk, nuts and other foods considered suitable for fasting. Some may also have a single sattvic meal during the day.

The vrat is traditionally associated with devotion, discipline and focusing the mind on Lord Ganesha rather than simply abstaining from food.

There is no universal requirement for every devotee to observe a strict fast. Those who cannot safely fast can participate in the puja and prayers without following rigorous food restrictions. Children, elderly people and those with specific dietary needs should follow practices suitable for them.

Ganesh Chaturthi fasting should also not be confused with the monthly Sankashti Chaturthi vrat. Although both are associated with Chaturthi and Lord Ganesha, their observances are different.

Ganesh Chaturthi Vrat Katha

One of the most popularly narrated stories associated with Ganesh Chaturthi concerns Lord Ganesha and Chandra Dev, the Moon God.

According to the traditional legend, Lord Ganesha once attended a feast and ate a great deal of food. While returning on his mouse vehicle, he stumbled and fell. The food spilled from his stomach, after which Ganesha gathered it and tied a snake around his stomach to hold everything together.

Chandra Dev witnessed the incident and laughed at Ganesha. Angered by the Moon’s behaviour, Lord Ganesha cursed him.

Chandra later realised his mistake and sought forgiveness. Ganesha eventually softened the curse but declared that anyone who saw the Moon on Chaturthi could face false accusations or allegations.

The story is traditionally associated with the practice of avoiding Moon sighting on Ganesh Chaturthi. The day is also known as Kalank Chaturthi because of this belief.

The exact period during which devotees should avoid looking at the Moon is location-specific and should therefore be checked against the Mumbai Panchang.

Ganpati Visarjan 2026 in Mumbai

The grand culmination of Ganeshotsav will take place on Friday, September 25, 2026, on Anant Chaturdashi. The day marks the traditional 10-day culmination of the festival and is among the biggest days of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Mumbai.

However, families do not necessarily keep Bappa for 10 days. Depending on their traditions, some households perform visarjan after one-and-a-half, three, five or seven days.

On the day of immersion, devotees perform the final puja and aarti before carrying the idol in a procession. The farewell is accompanied by devotional songs and the familiar chant of “Ganpati Bappa Morya.”

The immersion is traditionally understood as the return of Lord Ganesha’s physical form to the elements. The farewell therefore represents the temporary nature of the physical form, while devotees continue to carry the deity’s blessings and teachings with them.

In Mumbai, Ganpati Visarjan is also a major public spectacle, with devotees gathering along designated routes and immersion points to bid farewell to Bappa.

Eco-friendly Ganpati celebrations and visarjan

With thousands of idols immersed during Ganeshotsav, eco-friendly celebrations have become an important concern. Devotees can opt for natural clay idols and avoid decorations made from materials that could harm water bodies.

Families can also follow municipal guidelines for immersion and use designated artificial ponds or collection facilities wherever available.

Choosing sustainable decorations is another way to reduce the environmental impact of the festival. Natural flowers, cloth, paper, bamboo and reusable decorative materials can be used instead of thermocol and excessive plastic.

Ganesh Chaturthi remains one of Mumbai’s most cherished festivals, bringing families and communities together in devotion and celebration. From Bappa’s arrival at homes and pandals to the emotional farewell on visarjan day, the festival centres around the prayer that Lord Ganesha removes obstacles, brings wisdom and prosperity, and returns again the following year.

Note: Puja, Moon-sighting and visarjan timings can vary according to location. The timings mentioned above are specifically for Mumbai and are based on the city’s 2026 Panchang. Devotees in other cities should check their respective Panchang before performing the rituals.