Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 and 2027: date, muhurat and meaning
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026
14 September 2026
Monday
Passed
Ganesh Chaturthi 2027
4 September 2027
Saturday
305 days to go
Quick answer
Ganesh Chaturthi 2027 falls on Saturday, 4 September 2027 (Delhi). Ganesh Chaturthi marks the birth of Lord Ganesha; families and communities install a Ganesha idol, worship him with modak sweets and prayers, and later immerse the idol in water, often on Anant Chaturdashi.
Key takeaways
- 2026: Monday, 14 September 2026
- 2027: Saturday, 4 September 2027
- Each year's section explains which rule gave the date and how the muhurat was cut to the tithi.
- All times are for Delhi; abroad the tithi follows local time, so the date can differ by a day.
What is Ganesh Chaturthi?
The festival falls on the fourth day (Chaturthi) of the bright half of Bhadrapada and is celebrated as Ganesha's birthday. In the best-known story, Goddess Parvati shaped a boy from turmeric paste and asked him to guard her door. When he stopped Lord Shiva from entering, a fight followed and the boy was beheaded. To console Parvati, Shiva gave him the head of an elephant, restored his life and declared he would be worshipped before every other god.
That is why prayers, weddings and new ventures all begin with Ganesha. He is Vighnaharta, the remover of obstacles, and the lord of wisdom and new beginnings. In the late nineteenth century, Lokmanya Tilak turned this largely household festival into a public celebration to bring people together during the freedom movement, and Maharashtra has treated it as its grandest festival ever since.
How Ganesh Chaturthi is observed
Homes are cleaned and a small decorated platform is prepared for the idol. On the day, the idol is installed around midday, and a priest or the head of the family invokes the deity's presence (prana pratishtha) before the main puja. Ganesha's favourites are offered: blades of durva grass, red flowers, laddoos and above all modak, a steamed or fried dumpling filled with coconut and jaggery. Aarti is sung morning and evening, with songs like Sukhkarta Dukhharta.
Some families keep Ganesha for one and a half days, others for three, five or seven, while public pandals continue until Anant Chaturdashi, ten days later. Pandals in Mumbai and Pune draw millions, and the festival is also huge in Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Many families now choose clay idols and immerse them in a bucket at home. In the diaspora, temples and community groups host processions and shared meals.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: date and muhurat (Delhi)
Monday, 14 September 2026
On this day Chaturthi (Shukla Paksha) covers more of madhyahna (the middle fifth of daylight).
- Tithi
- 14 Sep, 7:07 AM – 15 Sep, 7:44 AM
- Madhyahna Ganesh puja (within Chaturthi)
- 11:02 AM – 1:30 PM
- Madhyahna moment
- 12:17 PM
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:06 AM / 6:28 PM
- Rahu kaal (this day)
- 7:38 AM – 9:11 AM
Full period (before cutting to the tithi): 11:02 AM – 1:31 PM
The key period on Ganesh Chaturthi is madhyahna, the middle part of the day, because tradition holds that Ganesha was born at midday. The festival is therefore kept on the day when Chaturthi tithi covers madhyahna, and the idol is ideally installed and worshipped during this window. Looking at the moon on this night is avoided. It is called Kalank Chaturthi, the Chaturthi of false blame, because a glimpse of the moon is said to bring an unfair accusation.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2027: date and muhurat (Delhi)
Saturday, 4 September 2027
On this day Chaturthi (Shukla Paksha) covers more of madhyahna (the middle fifth of daylight).
- Tithi
- 3 Sep, 2:19 PM – 4 Sep, 12:26 PM
- Madhyahna Ganesh puja (within Chaturthi)
- 11:04 AM – 12:26 PM
- Madhyahna moment
- 12:20 PM
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:01 AM / 6:40 PM
- Rahu kaal (this day)
- 9:10 AM – 10:45 AM
Full period (before cutting to the tithi): 11:04 AM – 1:36 PM
Ganesh Chaturthi wishes
May Bappa clear every obstacle from your path and fill your home with wisdom, joy and the sweetness of modak. Happy Ganesh Chaturthi.Send this on WhatsApp
More wishes will be added here soon.
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Frequently asked questions
Why should you not look at the moon on Ganesh Chaturthi?
The story goes that the moon laughed at Ganesha's round belly as he rode his mouse, and Ganesha cursed him: anyone who saw the moon on this night would face a false accusation. Even Krishna is said to have been wrongly accused of stealing the Syamantaka jewel after seeing it. So devotees avoid looking at the moon on this Chaturthi night, which is also called Kalank Chaturthi.
What if I accidentally see the moon on Ganesh Chaturthi?
There is no need to panic. Tradition offers a simple remedy: listen to or read the story of Krishna and the Syamantaka jewel, in which Krishna clears his name. Many people also recite a short Sanskrit verse connected to that story and then offer a prayer to Ganesha asking forgiveness. The sincerity behind the prayer matters far more than fear of the curse.
How many days should Ganpati stay at home?
It depends entirely on family tradition. Many households immerse the idol after one and a half days. Others keep Ganesha for three, five or seven days, and some for the full stretch until Anant Chaturdashi. Whatever the length, the custom is to offer puja and food to the deity every morning and evening while he is in the home, and to bid him farewell with an aarti.
How do I do Ganpati sthapana at home?
Clean the puja space and place a low stool covered with red or yellow cloth. During madhyahna, set the idol on it, place a water pot (kalash) beside it and make a short resolution (sankalp) stating your name and intention. Offer water, flowers, durva grass, sandalwood, rice, incense, a lamp and modak or laddoos. Finish with aarti and share the prasad with everyone present.
Why is modak Ganesha's favourite sweet?
Modak is the offering most closely tied to Ganesha. One story says the gods gave Parvati a modak made of divine nectar, and she gave it to Ganesha. In Maharashtra, ukadiche modak, steamed rice-flour dumplings filled with coconut and jaggery, are made at home, while other regions offer fried or khoya versions. Many families offer twenty-one modaks, a number associated with Ganesha worship.
How can I celebrate an eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi?
Choose an idol made of shadu clay or natural clay with plant-based colours, since plaster of Paris does not dissolve easily and harms rivers and lakes. Immerse it in a bucket or tub at home and pour the dissolved clay into your garden or pots. Many Indian cities and diaspora temples set up artificial ponds. Remove flowers and cloth before immersion and compost them separately.