Ganesh Chaturthi across India
Ganesh Chaturthi, the birthday of Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi, is kept for one and a half to eleven days depending on the family and region, ending with immersion — at the latest on Anant Chaturdashi.
How the date is fixed
Bhadrapada Shukla has the same name in Amanta and Purnimanta calendars. Ganesh Chaturthi is kept on the day Chaturthi prevails at midday (Madhyahna), the time of Ganesha's birth in tradition; Anant Chaturdashi, the last day of immersion, is the Chaturdashi at sunrise.
These rules are the ones this site's engine uses; the dates are for the selected place.
Ganesh Chaturthi — 04/09/2027 (Sat)
- The date is Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha Chaturthi; the month name is the same in the Amanta and Purnimanta systems.
- It falls on the day when this tithi prevails during Madhyahna — the third fifth of the daytime, around midday.
- If the tithi covers the whole of that period on both days, the first day is taken.
- If it covers parts of that period on both days that differ by less than 24 minutes, they count as equal and the first day is taken; the whole period on one day is preferred to a part on the other.
- If the tithi prevails at that time on two consecutive days, the day on which it covers more of that period is taken.
- If the tithi touches that period on neither day, the first of the two days it touches is taken.
- In a year with an Adhik month of the same name, it is observed in the regular (Nija) month.
When Chaturthi covers only part of the first day's Madhyahna and the whole of the next day's, the next day is taken (as on 19 Sep 2023); when it covers nearly equal parts of both (within 24 minutes), the first. A stricter reading of the Tritiya-joined rule takes the first day whenever Chaturthi touches its Madhyahna.
Anant Chaturdashi — 14/09/2027 (Tue)
- The date is Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi; the month name is the same in the Amanta and Purnimanta systems.
- It falls on the day when this tithi prevails at local sunrise (udaya tithi).
- The sunrise counts only if the tithi then lasts at least 3 muhurtas (each a fifteenth of the daytime); if it is shorter, the previous day, on which the tithi begins, is taken.
- If the tithi is present at two sunrises (a vriddhi tithi), the first day is taken.
- If the tithi does not touch that period on any day (a kshaya tithi), the Hindu day on which the tithi prevails longest is used.
- In a year with an Adhik month of the same name, it is observed in the regular (Nija) month.
When Chaturdashi lasts less than three muhurtas after sunrise, this rule takes the previous day (e.g. 28 Sep 2012 at New Delhi, Chaturdashi until 08:03); some almanacs, and the Ganesh Visarjan custom, keep the sunrise day in such years.
Region by region
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Ganeshotsav
Maharashtra
Besides the household festival, large public (sarvajanik) celebrations were popularised by Lokmanya Tilak in 1893; images are immersed after one and a half to eleven days.
Next date at your place: 04/09/2027 (Sat) · How the date is fixed
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Chavath
Goa
Chavath is celebrated in homes; Goa's tradition includes a history of hidden clay images from the time of the Inquisition.
Next date at your place: 04/09/2027 (Sat) · How the date is fixed
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Gowri Habba and Ganesha Chaturthi
Karnataka
The festival is preceded by Gowri Habba, the worship of Gowri (Parvati), Ganesha's mother.
Next date at your place: 04/09/2027 (Sat) · How the date is fixed
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Vinayaka Chaturthi
Tamil Nadu
Images of natural materials are encouraged; Plaster of Paris images have been banned in Tamil Nadu since 2017.
Next date at your place: 04/09/2027 (Sat) · How the date is fixed
Customs differ between families, communities and places; this guide describes what the cited sources report, not a single correct practice.