Ganesh Chaturthi 2024, a major Hindu festival, is just around the corner. This vibrant celebration honors Lord Ganesha, the deity known for his wisdom and as the remover of obstacles. The festival marks the birth of Lord Ganesha, traditionally observed during the Shukla Paksha of the Bhadrapada month. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually falls in late August or early September.

When is Ganesh Chaturthi This Year?

There’s some confusion about the exact date of Ganesh Chaturthi for 2024. According to Drikpanchang, the festival’s tithi begins on September 6 at 3 pm. However, the website also notes that the festival is officially recognized to start on September 7.

Celebrating the Festival

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated over ten days. Devotees bring home small idols of Lord Ganesha and offer prayers. The worship duration can vary, with some people keeping the idol for 1.5 days, 5 days, 7 days, or the full 10 days before immersing it in a water body. Offerings typically include satvik food—prepared without onion and garlic—such as Ukadiche Modak and Churma Laddu.

Festival Timing and Muhurat

This year, Ganesh Chaturthi will commence on Saturday, September 7. The Ganesh Visarjan, the immersion ceremony, will take place on Tuesday, September 17. The puja muhurat for Ganesh Chaturthi is from 11:03 am to 1:34 pm.

Learn More About Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi, also celebrated as Ganeshotsav, Vinayaka Chaturthi, or Vinayagar Chaturthi, is a vibrant Hindu festival that spans ten days. The festival, dedicated to Lord Ganesha, is celebrated with great enthusiasm across India, with particularly grand festivities in Maharashtra, Telangana, and Karnataka. Cities such as Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad become focal points for these large-scale celebrations.

During Ganesh Chaturthi, devotees bring home idols of Ganpati Bappa and perform the sthapana, or installation, of the idol. The celebrations include a range of activities: prayers are offered, rituals are performed, and bhog (offerings) are presented to the deity. Observing a fast is also a common practice among devotees.

The duration for which the idol is kept varies according to tradition and personal preference. Devotees may keep Ganpati Bappa in their homes for one-and-a-half days, three days, seven days, or the full ten days of the festival. The festival culminates with Ganesh Visarjan, a solemn ritual where the idols are immersed in water. This final act symbolizes the return of Lord Ganesha to his celestial abode, and is performed with a mix of joy and reverence as devotees bid a heartfelt farewell to their beloved deity.

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