05 September,2026 05:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Ganeshotsav 2026: Know the dates and significance behind those blissfull 11 days of Ganpati. File pic
Day 1. Ganesh Chaturthi
September 14, 2026
The festival begins with Ganpati Sthapana. Devotees bring Lord Ganesha home or welcome him into public pandals, perform the installation ritual, and offer prayers, flowers, durva, modaks, and other naivedya. The day marks the ceremonial arrival of Ganpati, and devotees seek his blessings for wisdom and the removal of obstacles.
Day 2. Panchami
September 15
For devotees keeping Ganpati beyond the first day, worship continues with morning and evening aarti, offerings, and darshan. Some families traditionally choose this day for visarjan, making it an important farewell day for shorter-duration Ganpati installations.
Day 3. Shashthi
September 16
Daily puja and aarti continue at homes and pandals. September 16 is also one of the traditional days on which some devotees perform Ganpati visarjan, particularly those who observe a three-day celebration.
Day 4. Saptami
September 17
The fourth day of the festival is another day of continued worship, community gatherings and cultural programmes. Devotees who keep Ganpati for longer continue their daily offerings and aarti.
Day 5. Panchami visarjan
September 18
The fifth day is significant for devotees who follow the five-day Ganpati tradition. After completing their prayers, families carry the idol in a procession and perform visarjan, bidding farewell to Ganpati.
Day 6. Shashthi
September 19
For households and mandals continuing the festival, worship carries on with aarti, naivedya and devotional activities. The focus remains on maintaining the daily connection with Ganpati before the eventual immersion.
Day 7. Saptami visarjan
September 20
This is another traditional visarjan day. Devotees observing a seven-day Ganpati celebration perform the final puja before taking the idol for immersion.
Day 8. Ashtami
September 21
The celebrations continue at homes and public pandals. Devotees offer prayers and participate in aarti and community festivities as the festival moves towards its final days.
Day 9. Navami
September 22
With Ganeshotsav nearing its conclusion, devotees continue their regular worship, aarti and offerings. Public pandals may also host cultural and devotional programmes.
Day 10. Dashami
September 23
The penultimate day of the festival is marked by continued prayers and preparations for the final farewell. Devotees begin preparing for the major visarjan celebrations on Anant Chaturdashi.
Day 11. Anant Chaturdashi
September 24/25
Anant Chaturdashi marks the culmination of Ganeshotsav and is the principal day for Ganpati visarjan. In Mumbai, Anant Chaturdashi falls on September 25, 2026. Devotees perform the final aarti, carry the idol in a procession and immerse it while chanting "Ganpati Bappa Morya."
The immersion symbolises bidding farewell to Lord Ganesha after his stay with devotees, with the belief that he will return the following year.
