The country’s biggest community festival returns with a full 10-day run on fixed dates: Wednesday, August 27 to Saturday, September 6. The birth celebration of Lord Ganesha begins in the late morning and stretches into nightly aartis, processions, and public darshan across India. If you’re planning your family puja or a society pandal, here’s your complete guide to Ganesh Chaturthi 2025—from muhurats and panchang notes to day-by-day rituals and the final Visarjan.

Dates, muhurat and the complete 10-day schedule

Chaturthi Tithi starts on Tuesday, August 26 at 1:54 PM and ends on Wednesday, August 27 at 3:44 PM. The main celebration is on Wednesday, August 27, when Ganesha is traditionally worshipped during madhyahna (midday). City-specific madhyahna puja windows align closely with local sunrise and the Sun’s transit. For 2025, the published windows include New Delhi from 11:05 AM to 1:40 PM, Pune from 11:21 AM to 1:51 PM, and Chennai from 10:56 AM to 1:25 PM. Local panchangs in other cities will show a similar midday slot with a small shift based on longitude and sunrise.

Moon-sighting is avoided on the festival’s start to prevent Mithya Dosha (a belief tied to false allegations). The advised no-moon window runs from August 26, 1:54 PM to 8:29 PM, and on August 27 from 9:32 AM to 8:56 PM. If accidentally seen, many households perform a brief prayer and listen to the traditional vrat-katha to seek remedy.

Key panchang markers for August 27: sunrise at 5:57 AM, sunset at 6:48 PM, moonrise at 9:28 AM, Brahma Muhurta from 4:28 AM to 5:12 AM, and Vijay Muhurta from 2:31 PM to 3:22 PM. Households usually place the idol (sthapana) in the late morning before madhyahna aarti, avoiding inauspicious periods like Rahu Kalam as per their local almanac.

Here’s the festival’s day-by-day flow, from sthapana to Visarjan. Families often choose 1.5, 3, 5, 7, or the full 10-day immersion, but sarvajanik pandals typically conclude on Day 10.

• Aug 27 (Chaturthi): Ganesh Sthapana and Prana Pratishtha. First aarti, modak naivedya, and durva grass offering.
• Aug 28 (Panchami): Morning and evening aartis, simple satvik bhog, community bhajans.
• Aug 29 (Shashthi): Home visits to friends’ and neighbours’ Ganpati; cultural programs begin in many pandals.
• Aug 30 (Saptami): Daily puja continues; traditional sweets like ukadiche modak and karanji are prepared.
• Aug 31 (Ashtami): Spiritual discourses and social drives (blood donation, cleanliness) at several community mandals.
• Sep 1 (Navami): Families perform special aartis for prosperity; schools often host art and craft events.
• Sep 2 (Dashami): Folk performances and classical music evenings peak in big cities.
• Sep 3 (Ekadashi): Devotees keep light fasts; charities distribute prasad and meals.
• Sep 4 (Dwadashi): Artisan showcases and competitions (rangoli, idol decoration) draw crowds.
• Sep 5 (Trayodashi): Preparations for immersion—flower nirmalya sorted, eco-pond routes mapped.
• Sep 6 (Chaturdashi/Anant Chaturdashi): Ganesh Visarjan. Final aarti, processions to rivers, lakes, beaches or designated artificial ponds.

On Visarjan day, immersions happen in phases: early morning for home idols, afternoon for mid-size community idols, and evening for the largest processions. Public advisories will guide traffic diversions, immersion queues, and safety points at water bodies.

Rituals, regional flavors, eco-friendly moves and practical tips

What makes the 10 days special is the rhythm—prayers at home, public darshan at neighborhood mandals, music and dance after dusk, and the unmistakable smell of fresh modaks in almost every lane. The tradition of a longer, community-led celebration traces back to Chhatrapati Shivaji’s court culture and was revived as a public festival by Lokmanya Tilak in 1893 to bring people together during colonial rule. That community spirit still defines the festival.

Rituals are simple but precise. A clean altar, a cloth-draped chowki, kalash, the idol facing inside the home, and an inviting toran at the entrance. The core offerings remain the same across states: 21 blades of durva, red flowers, a coconut, jaggery, and modak. Families chant Ganapati Atharvashirsha, perform aarti twice a day, and share prasad with visitors. Many households keep meat and liquor off the table for the entire period.

The food story is as lively as the festivities. In Maharashtra, steamed modaks and puran poli dominate. Karnataka sees karigadabu and kosambari salads. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, kudumulu (rice flour dumplings) and bobbatlu make frequent appearances. In Goa, nevri and patoleo are festival staples. Every city has a sweet shop that becomes part of the pilgrimage.

Public celebrations scale up the spectacle. Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja and Pune’s Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati draw some of the longest queues in the country. Hyderabad’s Khairatabad idol is known for its towering height and elaborate themes. Bengaluru’s traditional pandals balance classical music nights with community service. In coastal towns, processions to the sea create a carnival atmosphere, complete with dhol-tasha, lezim troupes, and tableaux.

Idol-making is its own seasonal economy. Artisans in hubs like Pen (Maharashtra) and city potters’ quarters work through the monsoon to fulfil pre-orders—ranging from small shadu-mitti idols for apartments to grand themed installations for sarvajanik mandals. In recent years, many families have shifted to clay, paper-mache, or seed-infused idols that dissolve quickly or can be planted after immersion.

The eco-friendly push is now mainstream. Cities set up artificial immersion ponds to protect lakes and beaches, and run special drives to collect nirmalya (flowers, leaves) for composting. Natural dyes, clay idols, and cloth or paper garlands help cut plastic waste. Many housing societies keep separate bins for flowers and decoration, and request residents to remove thermocol and metal parts before immersion.

Safety and civic plans matter just as much. Police and municipal teams usually announce traffic diversions ahead of Visarjan. Lifeguards, barricades, and cranes are stationed at major immersion points. Most cities enforce loudspeaker cut-offs at night under noise rules, while extending suburban train and bus services on key days. Expect advisories on drone use, parking, and procession routes as dates get closer.

New to hosting a home Ganpati? Here’s a practical checklist so you don’t scramble at the last minute:

• Puja basics: idol stand, chowki cloth, kalash, coconut, mango leaves, red flowers, durva, turmeric, kumkum, incense, lamp, camphor, rice, fruits, sweets (modak/karanji), and aarti plate.
• Placement: seat the idol on an elevated, stable surface; face the deity inward toward the living space.
• Timing: perform sthapana before the madhyahna aarti on Aug 27; follow your local almanac to avoid inauspicious periods.
• Aarti rhythm: morning and evening; keep it short and mindful if you have young children or elderly at home.
• Immersion options: 1.5, 3, 5, 7, or 10 days; choose an eco-pond nearby and pre-check timings.
• Clean-up: segregate nirmalya for composting; remove non-biodegradable décor before Visarjan.

Traveling or stepping out for darshan? Plan your route. Peak crowds gather in the late evening on the first two days and then again on Anant Chaturdashi. Keep a water bottle, carry cash for small purchases, and follow police instructions near barricades. Families with seniors or toddlers should target morning slots to avoid long waits.

The spiritual thread through all of this is simple—welcome wisdom, let go of ego. The 10-day arc mirrors that idea: devotion builds each day, the final immersion teaches detachment. Households often explain this to children as “we host a guest with love, then bid farewell with respect,” a message that sits well beyond the festival.

Finally, a quick recap of the key timings you’re likely to need on your fridge magnet: Chaturthi Tithi from Aug 26, 1:54 PM to Aug 27, 3:44 PM; madhyahna puja in New Delhi 11:05 AM–1:40 PM (with Pune and Chennai having similar midday windows), Brahma Muhurta 4:28–5:12 AM, Vijay Muhurta 2:31–3:22 PM, and the no-moon window to avoid on Aug 26 (1:54–8:29 PM) and Aug 27 (9:32 AM–8:56 PM). Visarjan falls on Saturday, Sep 6, when most cities will run extended civic services and organized immersion lines. Mark the dates; the drums, lights and modaks will take care of the rest.