Ganpati Bappa Global Presence: 6 Countries Where Ganesh Chaturthi is Celebrated That You Didn't Know About

Lord Ganesha, the beloved elephant-headed Hindu god, is one of the most widely worshipped gods in the world. It is not just in the Indian culture that Lord Ganesha is honoured, but his aura is beyond national boundaries. There are many countries in the world who worship Ganpati Bappa in a different form, but the spiritual energy remains the same.

Ganesh Chaturthi, or Vinayak Chaturthi, will begin tomorrow, August 27, 2025, with festivities across India, especially in Maharashtra. The celebration will continue for 10 days, ending with Ganesh Moorti Visarajan. Below are the top countries apart from India that worship Lord Ganesha.

Ganesh Chaturthi in Nepal

Nepal, where the festival is called Vinayaka Chaturthi, worships Lord Ganesha in temples such as Maru Ganesh and Surya Vinayak. Families host poojas at home, share food, and participate in temple ceremonies. The Nepalese tradition is very similar to the Indian tradition, as the majority of the population there is Hindu.

Ganesh Chaturthi in Indonesia

In Indonesia, especially Bali, Lord Ganesha occupies a huge position in local Hindu culture. Balinese Hindu temples hold Ganesh Chaturthi prayers, which come as a mix of Indian traditions with unique Indonesian rituals. Ancient artefacts and statues in the country reveal a history of Ganpati worship dating back centuries.

Ganesh Chaturthi in Thailand

Thailand celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi with unique local flavour. Here, Ganesha is known as Phra Phikanet and is worshipped for his blessings in art, commerce, and personal success. Major temples like Wat Phra Sri Umadevi welcome devotees for elaborate festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi.

Ganesh Chaturthi in Japan

In Japan, Lord Ganesha is worshipped as Kangiten, considered in Buddhist and Hindu temples alike. Japanese devotees honour Ganpati with offerings of daikon radishes and prayers for good fortune. Temples such as Matsuchiyama Shoden and Hozanji host devoted Ganesh Chaturthi rituals, together with Hindu traditions with local adaptations.

Ganesh Chaturthi in Cambodia

In Cambodia, love for Lord Ganesha goes back to the Khmer Empire days. Ancient temples like Angkor Wat still have beautiful carvings of Ganpati Bappa. Even today, Cambodian Hindus celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with prayers, keeping their centuries-old traditions alive.

Ganesh Chaturthi in Malaysia

Malaysia's Hindu community celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi with several days of events at major temples such as Sri Sithi Vinayagar, which hosts community events, prayers and festive meals. Ganpati Bappa in Malaysia is worshipped as the deity of new beginnings.