Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 Puja Shubh Muhurat on 14 September: Know Panchang Tithi, Katha, Moon-Sighting Timings

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 will be observed on Monday, September 14, marking the beginning of one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Homes and community pandals will welcome the deity with idol installations, prayers and traditional rituals, while devotees will observe the prescribed auspicious timings for Ganesh Puja.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Puja Shubh Muhurat, Chaturthi Tithi, Timings as Panchang or Hindu Calendar

The central worship period on September 14 will fall during Madhyahna, which is traditionally regarded as the most appropriate time for invoking Lord Ganesha. The festival will subsequently continue through various family and community observances before culminating in Ganesh Visarjan on Friday, September 25, which coincides with Anant Chaturdashi.

Ganesh Chaturthi on Shukla Paksha; Know Significance

Ganesh Chaturthi falls on the Chaturthi Tithi of Shukla Paksha during the Hindu month of Bhadrapada. The occasion is revered as the birth celebration of Lord Ganesha, who holds a prominent place in Hindu tradition as the deity associated with wisdom, prosperity, good fortune and the removal of obstacles.

The festival is also known by names such as Vinayaka Chaturthi and Ganesh Chauth. Devotees traditionally bring home or install Ganesha idols, perform Pran Pratishtha and offer prayers, flowers, sweets and other customary offerings during the festival.

Ganesh Puja Muhurat

For New Delhi, the Madhyahna Ganesha Puja Muhurat will begin at 11:02 AM and continue until 1:31 PM on September 14, 2026. The auspicious worship window will therefore remain available for approximately 2 hours and 28 minutes.

Madhyahna has particular importance in Ganesh Chaturthi observance because Hindu tradition associates this period with the birth of Lord Ganesha. Devotees observing the festival at home generally plan idol installation and the principal puja around this prescribed window.

As Hindu calendar calculations are location-specific, puja timings can differ from one city to another. Devotees outside New Delhi should therefore refer to the local panchang for the most accurate timings applicable to their location.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 Tithi Timing

The Chaturthi Tithi begins at 7:06 AM on September 14, 2026, and concludes at 7:44 AM on September 15. The festival's principal puja, however, is performed during the Madhyahna period on September 14 rather than throughout the entire duration of the Tithi.

The distinction between the Tithi and the Puja Muhurat is important for devotees planning their rituals. While the Chaturthi lunar phase extends into the following morning, the prescribed Madhyahna worship period provides the principal window for Ganesh Puja on the festival day.

Ganesh Chaturthi Moon-Sighting Restriction on 14 September 2026

Another important observance associated with Ganesh Chaturthi concerns sighting the Moon. In New Delhi, devotees are traditionally advised to avoid looking at the Moon from 9:06 AM to 8:04 PM on September 14, 2026.

The practice is linked to the traditional belief surrounding Mithya Dosha, under which seeing the Moon on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi is believed to bring the possibility of false accusations or allegations.

The belief is commonly connected with the Puranic story of Lord Krishna and the Syamantaka Mani. According to the traditional account, Krishna was falsely accused of stealing the precious jewel after being associated with the Moon-sighting observance on Chaturthi. The story is therefore often cited when explaining why devotees avoid viewing the Moon on Ganesh Chaturthi.

The Moon-sighting restriction is calculated according to geographical location, meaning the timings applicable to New Delhi should not automatically be applied to every part of India. Devotees who observe this tradition should check the local panchang for the precise timing in their respective city.

Ganesh Chaturthi Katha: The Birth of Lord Ganesha

One of the most widely narrated stories associated with Ganesh Chaturthi describes how Goddess Parvati created Ganesha and entrusted him with guarding the entrance while she was bathing. When Lord Shiva later arrived and sought entry, Ganesha refused to allow him inside, following his mother's instructions.

A confrontation followed, during which Shiva severed Ganesha's head. On seeing Parvati's grief and anger, Shiva promised to restore her son to life. His attendants were instructed to bring the head of the first suitable being they encountered, and an elephant's head was eventually brought back.

Shiva then restored Ganesha to life with the elephant's head and granted him a special place among the gods. He also declared that Ganesha would be worshipped before the commencement of auspicious activities. The story forms an important part of the religious traditions surrounding the festival and explains Ganesha's enduring association with the removal of obstacles and the beginning of new ventures.

When Does Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 End? Visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi

The 10-day celebration will culminate on Friday, September 25, 2026, with Ganesh Visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi. On the final day, devotees carry Ganesha idols in processions and immerse them in water, symbolically bidding farewell to the deity before welcoming him again the following year.

The full 10-day tradition is followed by many households and public mandals. However, the duration of idol installation varies according to family traditions and local customs. Some devotees perform Visarjan after one, three, five or seven days instead of keeping the idol until Anant Chaturdashi.