Ganesh Chaturthi 2027 Date – 4 September

How Ganesha was born

In the best-known story, Parvati shaped a boy from turmeric paste and gave him life, asking him to guard her door while she bathed. When Shiva returned and the boy refused to let him in, Shiva struck off his head. To console Parvati, Shiva replaced it with the head of an elephant and made the boy leader (gana-pati) of his attendants, declaring that he would be worshipped first before any other deity.

Ganesh Chaturthi falls on Chaturthi, the fourth lunar day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada.

From home festival to public festival

Ganesha has been worshipped at home in Maharashtra for centuries, but the large public celebrations (sarvajanik Ganeshotsav) took shape in Pune in the 1890s, when Bal Gangadhar Tilak promoted them as a way to bring communities together during British rule. Today Mumbai's mandals, such as Lalbaugcha Raja, draw huge crowds, and Pune, Hyderabad (Khairatabad) and Goa hold their own grand celebrations.

How long the festival lasts

Families keep Ganesha for 1.5, 3, 5, 7 or 10 days according to custom; the idol is immersed (visarjan) at the end of the chosen period. Public mandals usually keep their idols until Anant Chaturdashi, when processions with drums and dancing carry them to the sea, rivers or lakes, accompanied by the cry 'Ganpati Bappa Morya, pudhchya varshi lavkar ya' – come back soon next year.

Regional customs

• Maharashtra – ukadiche modak (steamed rice-flour dumplings with coconut and jaggery), the Sukhkarta Dukhharta aarti, and Gauri Avahan, when Gauri idols are brought home for three days.
• Karnataka – Gowri Habba the day before, followed by Ganesha Habba.
• Tamil Nadu – Vinayaka Chaturthi with kozhukattai and sundal.
• Andhra Pradesh and Telangana – Vinayaka Chavithi, with 21 kinds of leaves offered in the patri puja.
• Goa – Chavath, a family festival with a canopy (matoli) of fruits and forest produce hung over the idol.

Eco-friendly Ganeshotsav

Plaster of Paris idols and chemical paints do not dissolve easily and pollute water bodies. Many cities now encourage shadu (natural clay) idols, natural colours, smaller sizes and immersion in artificial ponds or a bucket at home, after which the dissolved clay can go into the garden.

Ganesh Chaturthi puja samagri (what you need)

• Clay Ganesha idol
• Wooden chowki (platform) and a red or yellow cloth
• Kalash with water, mango leaves and a coconut
• Durva grass
• Red flowers, such as hibiscus, and a garland
• Modak and laddoos
• Sindoor, roli, chandan and akshat
• Janeu (sacred thread)
• Betel leaves and supari
• Fruit, especially bananas
• Diya, ghee, camphor and incense

How to do Ganesh Chaturthi puja, step by step

1. Clean the puja area and place the idol on a chowki covered with cloth, facing east or west.
2. Place a kalash beside the idol and light a diya.
3. Invite Ganesha into the idol (avahan) with a prayer or mantra, such as 'Om Gan Ganapataye Namah'.
4. Offer water, chandan, sindoor, akshat, janeu, red flowers and durva grass.
5. Offer modak, laddoos and fruit as naivedya.
6. Perform aarti morning and evening for as long as the idol stays.
7. On the last day, perform a final puja (uttarpuja), then immerse the idol with respect.