Next Vinayaka Chaturthi: Vinayaka Chaturthi — Tuesday, 15 September 2026
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🙏 Lord Ganesha
Vinayaka Chaturthi
🗓️ Shukla Chaturthi Tithi (monthly)
The story behind Vinayaka Chaturthi
Vinayaka Chaturthi is the Shukla Paksha Chaturthi of every month, the waxing-moon counterpart of Sankashti. Where Sankashti is kept for relief from troubles, Vinayaka Chaturthi is kept for wisdom, new beginnings and success, with the puja performed at midday. The Ganesh Chaturthi of Bhadrapada is the grandest of the twelve; the monthly vrat carries the same worship through the year. Tradition advises against sighting the moon on this day.
Vinayaka Chaturthi Puja Vidhi
1
Morning Sankalpa
Bathe, wear clean clothes and vow to fast until the midday puja is complete, taking only fruit or water before it.
2
Madhyahna Ganesh Puja
At midday, install or clean the Ganesha image, offer durva grass, red flowers, sindoor and 21 modaks or laddoos.
3
Ganapati Atharvashirsha
Recite the Ganapati Atharvashirsha or the Sankat Nashan Ganesh Stotra, then perform aarti.
4
Parana
Break the fast after the midday puja with the prasad; avoid looking at the moon that night.
Vinayaka Chaturthi Mantra
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः॥
Meaning
Salutations to Ganapati, the lord of the ganas.
How to chant
Chant 108 times during the midday puja, offering a durva blade with every 21st repetition.
Vinayaka Chaturthi falls on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, based on Kaala's Drik Panchang calculation for the corresponding Tithi.
Vinayaka Chaturthi is dated according to the lunar Tithi, not the fixed Gregorian calendar, so its Gregorian date shifts from year to year while its position in the lunar calendar stays consistent.
The astronomical event Vinayaka Chaturthi marks happens at the same instant everywhere in the world, but which calendar day that instant falls on locally depends on each city's own timing — so cities in different countries can observe Vinayaka Chaturthi a day apart.
