Vinayaka Chaturthi 2026

Quick facts

• Also known asVinayaki Chaturthi
• WhereAll of India, every month
• Puja forGanesha
• In one lineGanesha's Chaturthi of the bright half, every month. The year's two big ones are Ganesh Jayanti in Magha and Ganesh Chaturthi in Bhadrapada.

Vinayaka Chaturthi, in a little more detail

1. 01

   About the festival

   Every month has two Chaturthis for Ganesha. The one after the new moon, in the bright half, is Vinayaka Chaturthi; the one after the full moon, in the dark half, is Sankashti.

   Sankashti is kept to clear troubles, and its fast ends at moonrise. Vinayaka Chaturthi is kept for Ganesha's grace, for riddhi and siddhi. Kaldarshi picks its day by where Chaturthi holds at midday.

   Ganesha is the god of beginnings. Once a month you stop, remember him, and ask for good sense in what comes next: that's the meaning of the vrat.

2. 02

   Around his parents

   At Kailash, the sage Narada brought Shiva a fruit of knowledge. Shiva wanted to share it between his sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya, but Narada said not to split it: give it to whoever first goes round the world three times.

   Kartikeya set off at once on his peacock. Ganesha thought: for me, my parents, Shiva and Shakti, are the whole world. He walked around them, and asked for the fruit.

   The fruit went to Ganesha. Thought beats speed, and everything can be in what's right beside you: that's why Ganesha is the god of wisdom.

3. 03

   In Maharashtra and beyond

   At home, a fast and Ganesha puja: durva grass, a red flower, and modaks or ladoos as naivedya. The bowl of modaks in his hand says it all: he loves sweets.

   When this Chaturthi falls on a Tuesday it's Angaraki. Like Angaraki Sankashti it's held special, and Ganesha temples fill up that day.

   Two of the year's twelve Vinayaka Chaturthis have become big festivals: Ganesh Jayanti in Magha, kept in the temples, and Ganesh Chaturthi in Bhadrapada, kept in every home.

How to do the puja

In short: Ganesha at midday: durva, a red flower, modaks and the aarti.

1. 1Bathe in the morning and take the sankalp for the vrat.
2. 2If you fast, keep to fruit, milk or fasting foods through the day.
3. 3At midday, while Chaturthi holds, set Ganesha's image on a clean patta.
4. 4Light a lamp and incense.
5. 5Offer durva, red flowers, haldi-kunku and akshata.
6. 6Recite the Ganapati Atharvashirsha or Ganesha's names.
7. 7Offer modaks or ladoos as naivedya and do the aarti.
8. 8Break the fast with the prasad after the puja, or in the evening if that's your family's way.

What you needTick as you go

• An image or murti of Ganesha
• A patta and a clean cloth
• Durva grass
• Red flowers (hibiscus)
• Haldi
• Kumkum
• Akshata
• A diya and ghee
• Incense
• Modaks or ladoos
• An aarti plate

Frequently asked questions