About Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 Festival

Ganesh Chaturthi, Vinayakar Chaturthi or Ganesh Visarjan is a sacred Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha – the god of wisdom, prosperity and the remover of obstacles. This colourful festival is celebrated over a period of ten days and is marked with great fervour in different parts of India, especially in Maharashtra. Beautifully decorated idols of Lord Ganesha are made and erected in homes and pandals. Followers come together for prayers, rituals and cultural events, including singing devotional songs, and carrying processions. The visarjan is a symbolic farewell to the deity as he leaves for his abode, Mount Kailash, amid chants, and fervent adulation from his devotees, leaving behind blessings and an emotional void with his return to his heavenly abode, which marks the end of the festival with a spiritual high, and blessings for the year ahead!

Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 Start and End Date

Ganesh Chaturthi in 2025 will begin on Wednesday, 27 August 2025.

Story Behind Ganesh Chaturthi

Significance of Ganesh Chaturthi

The legend of Ganesh Chaturthi is associated with the birth of Lord Ganesha, who is the favorite elephant-headed son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in Hindu mythology.

According to legend, Goddess Parvati created Ganesha from the sandalwood paste that she used for her bath and breathed life into the figure. She then set him to stand guard at her door while she finished bathing. It so happened that Lord Shiva returned home, only to be stopped at the gate by the young Ganesha, who was following his mother’s orders. An oblivious Shiva battled head-on with Ganesha and chopped off Ganesha's head.

When it dawned on him that Ganesha was indeed his own son, whom he had just beheaded, and that he was innocent, grief-stricken, the remorseful Lord Shiva was overcome with sorrow and remorse. To appease Goddess Parvati and to restore Ganesha, Lord Shiva vowed to bring him back to life. He told his followers (Ganas) to cut off the head of the first creature they saw, keep its head facing North and its body in the opposite direction. The first animal they found was an elephant, so they cut off its head and attached it to Ganesha's body and thus resurrected him with an elephant's head; an event that led to his special position as a deity with an elephant's head.

This reincarnation of Lord Ganesha is celebrated as Ganesh Chaturthi, the day of his birth and a festival to commemorate his intelligence, ability to remove obstacles from life and his tuft. It is a time of new beginnings, prosperity, and the victory of light over darkness.

Ganesh Sthapana 2025

Ganesh Sthapana, Lord Ganesha’s installation, is one of the sacred events that initiate the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. It includes the installation of the deity's idol at home, public pandals (temporary shrines) and group worship. That’s Ganesh Sthapana in details:

Preparation:

Before the holy day of Ganesh Chaturthi, one cleans and sanctifies the place where the statue of Lord Ganesha is placed. They draw pictures in the wall with flowers, leaves, rangoli (special art on floor) and other traditional decorations.

Selection or creation of idol:

The idol is crafted either by the family or a professional sculptor in the form of Lord Ganesha. The idols can be as small as one for home worship or as large as one for public worship. Idols are usually made of eco-friendly clay, eco-friendly materials, and Plaster of Paris (PoP) (eco-friendly is preferred for environmental reasons).

Prana Pratishtha:

This ritual of Prana Pratishtha is conducted on the day of Ganesh Sthapana by a priest or a person who is appointed to manage it for their family. This ritual is performed by chanting holy mantras, praying and performing some rituals welcoming the divine presence of Lord Ganesha into the idol, which is done to place the divine essence (prana) into it.

Ganesh Murti Sthapana:

The murti (idol) of Lord Ganesha is placed on a decorated platform or an altar. Followers present flowers, incense, adoration and a selection of offerings, according with their means, whilst singing hymns of praise to the deity.

Ganpati Sthapana Puja:

Hindu devotees perform daily pujas (prayers), hymns, or Ganesha Upanishad, and offer variety of prasad and sweets to Ganesha throughout the festival by placing an idol of Ganesha in home. The popular prasad is modak (a type of sweet), durva (trefoil) and thousands of coconut as a mark of reverence!

Ganesh Sthapana Mantra:

Ganesha Sthapana mantra is chanted to invoke the Lord Ganesha during the beginning of the Puja Offerings. It generally involves the chanting of the 'ॐ गं गणपतये नमः' (Om Gam Ganapataye Namah), which is a powerful mantra to seek blessings, wisdom and prays for the obstacles to be cleared from the life.

Distribution Modak:

Modak is considered as the favorite sweet of Lord Ganesha and is made and offered as prasad (sanctified food). Then it is shared with family and followers as a consecrated gift.

Continuing Festivities And Joy:

The arrival of Lord Ganesha marks the beginning of a ten-day festival which involves cultural activities, social and community activities, and processions of the deity, all with an aim to unite people and bring about devotion among people.

Ganesh Sthapana represents the welcoming of Lord Ganesha into our hearts and homes so that he can stay there throughout the festival and bless us with his grace, divine presence and serendipity, thus beginning the period of solace, prosperity and elimination of breaches.

What Is The Significance Of Ganesh Sthapana

The installation of the idol is called Ghatasthapana, Ghatashravani, or Sthapana during the festival and it is considered one of the most significant events in the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. The festival starts with installation of Ganesh carving and does Ganesh Sthapana with proper rituals and respect.

This is the meaning of Ganesh Sthapana:

• The invocation of the Deity: Ganesh Sthapana implies the invocation or the inviting the divine presence (or soul) of Lord Ganesha into the installed idol or the picture. These mantras and rituals invoke the deity to impermanently inhabit the statue for the festival.

• Worship and adoration: It marks the onset of the ten-day long worship and adoration of Lord Ganesha. During the festival, adherents can worship, hold puja, or as they pray and seek the deity's blessings.

• Remover of obstacles: Lord Ganesha is worshipped as 'the remover of obstacles' and more generally as 'the lord of beginnings'; 'ricky roads' is for a trouble-free and blessed life. The festival begins with the installation of Ganesh. This holy act symbolises the invoking of the divine with an appeal to remain on earth, to bless and protect it.

• Start of Festivities: Ganesh Sthapana is the beginning of the festive season. Families and neighbourhoods prepare with utmost devotion, playing group games and joining cultural events, ritual creativity and the faith in Mother Goddess in 10-day long celebration.

• Cultural and Social Unity: Installation of the idol of Lord Ganesha unites communities and families. It creates a feeling of oneness, bond, and cultural affinity among its participants crossing across the barriers of caste, creed and social barriers.

• Bringer of Good Luck and Prosperity: According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesha brings good luck and fortune in your home and to keep his pure essence in home or public pandals is considered to be highly auspicious. It is said to attract prosperity, wisdom, and beneficial vibes in the lives of devotees.

• Environment Friendly: Eco-friendly idols and decorations are encouraged in many communities during Ganesh Sthapana, raising awareness of the environment and promoting the use of materials which can be easily disbanded and biodegradable, less harmful to the environment.

Ganesh Sthapana is not a ritual but it has spiritual and cultural importance which focuses on the prayer, unity and taking blessings of Lord Ganesha in order to start a new work in successful and joyful manner.

What Are The Customs Of Ganesh Puja

Ganesh Chaturthi is marked with the installation of Ganesha clay idols privately in homes, or publicly on elaborate pandals (temporary stages). These are some of the main rituals and traditions of the festival:

Idol Installation: The festivities start with the installation of Lord Ganesha idols in homes and pandals. And they buy or make a form of Ganesha out of clay and adorn it with colorful flowers, garlands, and jewels.

Prana Pratishtha: The image of Lord Ganesha is brought home either a day before or on the day of the festival and a priest, or in his absence a family member performs a puja. This practise would include the recitation of the mantras and carrying out certain rituals to breathe life into the deity.

Pooja (Prayers) and Aarti: Pooja’s are performed with full devotion several times a day along with aartis and special ceremonies are conducted daily dedicated to the lord Ganesha during the 10 day festival. People present flowers, fruits, sweets and other delicacies as bhog (offerings) to the deity in order to seek blessings.

Modak Prasadam: Modak is a sweet dumpling believed to be a Lord Ganesha favorite which is cooked and served in the prayers and puja. It represents dedication and it is said to make the deity happy.

Singing of Bhajans and Cultural Programmes: People have bhajans, devotional songs, cultural programs in their homes and also in the pandals, adding to the festive atmosphere. It is also typical to see cultural dances, dramas, and music shows at this time.

Pandal hopping: People have to visit theme based pandals to offer prayers, seek ganesha's blessings and for the Ganpati Darshan to get blessed and have a look at the specially designed decor and theme of all thematic pandals.

Ganpati Visarjan (Immersion): On the day of Ananta Chaturdashi, which is the Ganesh Visarjan day, the idols are taken in huge processions to the nearby rivers, ponds, or sea for immersion. The immersion represents the journey of Lord Ganesha back to his home and the creation and destruction of the universe. With their prayers and chants the devotees bid him goodbye, praying he will come back again next year.

These customs and traditions are different in different parts of India, among different castes and different sects. But the spirit of Ganesh Chaturthi remains the same–celebrating Lord Ganesha as an embodiment of wisdom, joy and goodness, and ensuring the inclusion of all devotees in his spiritual power.

Ganesh Puja Mantra

There are several mantras dedicated to Lord Ganesha which are chanted while performing Ganesh Puja to seek the blessings and guidance of the lord. Name of one of the popular maha mantras is the "Ganesh Maha mantra". Here are some popular Ganesh mantras:

Ganesh Gayatri Mantra:
"ॐ एकदन्ताय विद्धमहे, वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि। तन्नो दन्ति प्रचोदयात्॥"
"Om Ekadantaya Viddhamahe, Vakratundaya Dhimahi, Tanno Danti Prachodayat."

Ganesh Maha Mantra:
“ॐ गं गणपतये नमः॥”
“Om Gam Ganapataye Namah.”

Ganesh Beej Mantra Meaning:
"Salutations to Lord Ganesha"
"ॐ गं गणेशाय नमः॥"
"Om Gam Ganeshaya Namah."

Many people believe that reciting these mantras in the ear of a deity while doing Ganesh Puja will get blessings of wisdom and from Lord Ganesha and will remove all obstacles. Prayer recitation — They can be chanted by devotees thousands of times as part of their prayer regimen, to show respect and to ask for divine help in their lives.

Ganpati Decoration At Home

Ganesh utsav decoration at home is a beloved tradition where you set up your house bright, inviting, and astral to welcome Lord Ganesha. Here are few Ganpati decoration ideas at home:

Pandal or Altar Set up: Allocate a space for a pandal or altar where you would keep the idol of Lord Ganesha in your home. It may be a table, stage or small space with colored sheets, traditional decorations, fresh flowers.

Idol and Decorations: Select or make an idol which suits your place, Decorate the idol as you want. Adorn the deity with flower garlands, accessories and jewels. Whether it is fresh flowers, artificial flowers, or cloth decorations, you can also decorate it by yourself.

Decorations Around a Theme: Group everything for your decorations by a single theme. It could take a traditional design, a modern one, one inspired by nature, or one based on a particular concept. You can opt for decorative lights, colorful drapes, rangoli, torans, and paper or fabric bunting to add to the theme.

Flowers: Fresh flowers add freshness and colour to the set up. Decorate the pandal or altar with intricate floral arrangements. Marigold, Roses, and Jasmine Flowers Ideas Source
Marigolds, roses, and jasmine – these are the most frequently used flowers in Ganesh Chaturthi decoration.

Traditional elements: Add traditional elements like brass or silver diyas (lamps), bells, incense holders and ornamental pots. During this time position these items so that they surround the idol for a realistic effect.

Lighting: Throw in soft lighting that is colored. Use string lights, lanterns, diyas, candles and everything that makes you feel warm and cozy.

Background and Wall Decor: Decorate the wall behind altar with pictures or art works of Lord Ganesha, wall hanging or wall stickers associated to the celebration.

Rangoli: Make a beautiful rangoli close to the entry or have a rangoli design around the pandal along the use of colored powders, flower petals, coloured rice etc. These patterns are an omen of good fortune and further contribute to the celebratory feel.

Offerings Display: Keep the offerings (fruits, sweet and modak) creatively near the idol. Use normal plates or fancy trays for serving prasad.

Family Decor: Include the whole family in the decorating project. Get everyone to try and come up with something, and get them involved in making a happy place.

You are focusing on being green with a preference for eco-friendly materials when decorating and discarding non-biodegradable products that could potentially harm nature. Design an aesthetic and sacred ambiance for the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration at your place expressing your love and devotion to Lord Ganesha at the time of Ganesh Chaturthi festival at home.

Why Is Ganesh Visarjan So Significant During Ganesh Chaturthi?

Ganesh Visarjan – The Act of Immersion of Ganesh Idols

Ganesh Visarjan – The act of immersion of Ganesh idols, which has huge importance in Ganesh Chaturthi festivity. It is a celebration marking the end of the ten day Ganesh Chaturthi festival by immersing the idol of Ganesha in water, typically done in water bodies such as rivers, lakes, or the sea. Here are its main significance of Ganesh Visarjan:

Decoding the Symbolism of Lord Ganesha's Immersion

This ritual of immersion is the final visarjan or immersion symbolizing the departure of the Lord from the terrestrial sphere to his eternal adobe at Mount Kailash which is believed to be his divine abode. It is the return of the deity to the Heaven after a stay with his devotees for nine days.

Ganesh Visarjan: Cycle of Creation and Dissolution

Ganesh Visarjan signifies cycle of birth and death of creation. As Lord Ganesha is received with joy and his farewell is an indication of the impermanence of life and form.

Lesson on Impermanence

It is a lesson on impermanence as it reminds followers that nothing in life is permanent not even material things. The immersion teaches the spirits that they must detach themselves from earthly ties, but can accept change and move on.

Rebirth and Invigoration

Genesh Visarjan also symbolizes renewal and rejuvenation. It represents the end of something and the beginning of something else – a message that tells us to embark on new projects and ventures.

Focus on Environmental Consciousness

Of late, there is more of a focus on environment-friendly celebrations and eco-friendly Ganeshas are being stressed upon that are made out of decomposable materials so that the immersion does not lead to pollution of water bodies with non-biodegradable idols. There are a number of communities and groups that are encouraging environmentally friendly immersions to safeguard the water bodies and the environment.

Community Bonding And Farewell At Ganesh Visarjan

Groups of people take Lord Ganesha for a farewell as thousands bid adieu to the God. Followers dance and sing and hold a procession along with the idol to the river to immerse it.

Ganesh Visarjan is an emotional, devotional and spiritually concluding phase. It marks the conclusion of the festival, overtakes with prayers of the Lord to return even quicker the next year to bless the devotees.

Conventional Delicacies Made on Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi being an auspicious festival celebrated with much pomp and fervor has an array of traditional foods attached to it. Some of the favourite, and traditional foods that are made during this festival are:

• Modak: A sweetmeat that is one of Lord Ganesha's favourite. These steamed or fried dumplings are made from rice flour or wheat flour filled with a mixture of grated coconut, jaggery or sugar, cardamom, and nuts. They can be of different shapes and sizes and served as prasad. The pujas conclude with the modaks being distributed as prasad to the devotees.

• Ukadiche Modak: Another kind of modak, Ukadiche Modak is a Maharashtrian delight where dumplings are made from a soft outer-rice flour shell and are filled with a sweet filling of coconut, jaggery and nuts. They’re steamed, not fried.

• Puran Poli: A sweet flatbread with a filling that consists of chana dal (split chickpeas), jaggery, cardamom and nutmeg, which is stuffed and rolled in wheat flour dough. It is also cooked on Griddle with ghee and is a delicious item during the festival.

• Karanji: Karanji, sometimes also called Gujiya, is a deep-fried sweet dumpling. It is prepared by filling grated coconut, sugar or jaggery and nuts in a semolina or wheat flour-based dough, and creating a crescent shape, followed by deep frying.

• Coconut rice: Easy Peasy recipe combining rice along with freshly grated coconut, aromatic spices such as mustard seeds, curry leaves, dry red chilies. It’s a favorite savory dish served to Lord Ganesha.

• Ladoos: Besan (chick peas flour) or rava (semolina) Ladoos, wherein the main ingredient is roasted along with sugar, ghee and nuts, are prepared at the time of Ganapati festival as an offering. The round sweet balls are also very popular amongst the devotees.

• Sundal: This South Indian treat is a savory snack of beans (chana, kala chana, moong dal, etc) that’s flavored with mustard seeds, curry leaves, coconut and spices. It is distributed as prasad and is also served to guests during the festival.

How is Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrated in Various States of India

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with special traditions, rituals and enthusiasm in different states of India like the rest of the country which is a remarkable Hindu culture and tradition. This is what Ganesh Chaturthi looks like across states in the country:

Maharashtra:

In Maharashtra, Ganesh Chaturthi is of great importance. The festival is a grand celebration here, with large processions, fancy decorations, and installation of large size Ganesh idols in pandals. During the ten-day-long festival, there are cultural events, music and dance performances all culminating in colourful processions called ‘visarjan’ on the tenth day, when idols of the Lord are immersed in water bodies with the chanting of prayers.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana:

Vinayaka Chavithi or Ganesh Chaturthi. The celebrations involve placing idols at homes, worshipping, performing pujas, and making sweets and dishes such as modakams, laddos, and kudumulu (steamed rice balls) as offerings to the Lord Ganesha.

Tamil Nadu:

They call Ganesh Chaturthi as Pillayar Chaturthi and it is observed with piety and splendor. Idols of Lord Ganesha are placed in homes and temples. Special prayers, pujas and offerings of modak, kozhukattai (sweet dumplings) and sundal (legume-based snack) are offered to the goddess.

Karnataka:

In Karnataka the festival is known as Ganesh Habba. It's the worship of Ganesh idols, at your place and in the temple. Modak, kadubu (rice flour dumplings) or a range of sweets are what people make as offerings to Lord Ganesha. Public pandals are also erected and processions are taken out on the occasion of the festival.

Gujarat:

Ganesh Chaturthi/Ganesh Utsav is celebrated with fervour in Gujarat. On this festival idols are placed both in homes as well as in public. Family members prepare modak, shrikhand, kheer and fafda (a crispy snack) as an offering to Lord Ganesha.

Goa:

Ganesh Chaturthi, also called Chavath in Konkani, is observed with traditional pomp. It is a festival of installing idols at home and offering various dishes such as modak, nevri (sweet pastry) and kheer to Lord Ganesha. Public processions with colorful ornaments are also common during the festivities.

Though the spirit of Ganesh Chaturthi in India is similar, different regions of India incorporate their own local flavors, customs and traditional foods to the celebrations, creating a celebration that is rich, olio and celebrated with passion and fervor by people of that particular region.

Variety Of Ganesh Idols Used In Ganesh Chaturthi

Different types of Lord Ganesha idols are worshiped during Ganesh Chaturthi, which has different forms and significance.

Here are few forms of Ganesha that are worshipped widely during the festival:

• Sitting or Seated Ganesha: This pose shows Ganesha seated one leg resting on the floor and the other leg bent in the form of a Y from a meditative standpoint called the Sukhasana. It represents peace, calm, and wisdom.

• Standing Ganesha: Here, the Lord Ganesha is shown standing with four arms. He also carries various symbolic objects such as a broken tusk, an axe, a noose, or a modak. Devotees worship Standing Ganesha as a symbol of power, etc.

• Athletic Ganesha (Nritya Ganapati): In this form, Lord Ganesha is in a dancing pose. The idol depicts the graceful and beautiful dance of Lord Ganesha and represents his happy and creative side.

• Panchmukhi Ganesha (Ganpati with Five Heads): At many places, people like to show Ganesha with 5 heads and ten hands, signifying that he is greater than the 5 elements of nature. Each head is symbolic of elements or cards of the compass marked his presence.

• Bal Ganesha: Bal Ganesha is the infant form of Lord Ganesha who is worshipped in Bal Ganesha form because he gives us strength and power. He is loved and adored by millions of people around the world, not only because he is cute but also because he loves to play with the children. Ganpati shows him as a perfect kid who is every child’s favourite. It signifies innocence, purity and the childlike trait in the deity.

• Ekadanta Ganesha: In this form Ganesha is shown with one tusk bending towards and holding it in one of his hands. It symbolises self-restraint, resoluteness and the pursuit for excellence.

• Sankatahara Ganesha: In this form Lord Ganesha is adored as the Eliminator of Obstacles and Problems. He is drawn in four-armed form and is considered to relieve from intolerable difficulties and grant success.

• Ashtavinayak Idols: In parts of Maharashtra like some of the villages such as Pali these Ashtavinayak idols are painted with a certain upper part like that of the fort. Each has a different appearance and meaning identified with a specific place of pilgrimage.

Various forms of Ganesh idols are symbolically significant. Indication of which one you should choose is generally based on individual belief, community tradition, and the type of benefit the worshipper wishes to derive from installing the Lord at home during Ganesh Chaturthi.