Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the Shukla Chaturthi of the month of Bhadrapada, usually in August or September. Families welcome Ganesha at home, worship him daily and bid him farewell with visarjan. Here is a simple plan.
Before the festival
- Choose the idol. A small clay idol is the best option because it dissolves in water without harming rivers and lakes. Avoid idols made of plaster of Paris and chemical paints.
- Prepare the space. Clean a raised platform, spread a red or yellow cloth and keep a lamp and flowers ready.
- Gather the items. Use the aarti thali list, and add durva grass (21 blades is common), red hibiscus, modak, coconut and bananas.
Sthapana (installing the idol)
- Bathe, wear clean clothes and place the idol facing east or west on the cloth.
- Light the diya and take a sankalp.
- Offer kumkum, akshat, flowers and durva with a few simple mantras such as “Om Gan Ganapataye Namah”.
- Offer modak and fruit as bhog.
- Sing Jai Ganesh Deva and close with the Karpur Gauram mantra.
If you are unsure of the Sanskrit mantras, a heartfelt aarti, a prayer in your own words and a flower for each day is enough.
Daily puja while Ganesha is at home
Light a diya morning and evening, offer fresh flowers and one sweet, and sing the aarti with the family. Children enjoy ringing the bell, which is a good way to introduce them to aarti.
Visarjan
On the chosen day, do the final aarti, offer sweets and request Ganesha to return next year. Immerse the clay idol in a bucket or tub at home and use the water and clay for plants. If you take part in a public visarjan, follow local guidelines.
Eco-friendly tips
- Prefer natural flowers and avoid plastic decorations
- Use a bucket for home visarjan
- Give prasad in leaf plates or reusable steel
- Choose a smaller idol that suits the space
Regional note
In Maharashtra the festival is large and public, in Karnataka and Andhra it is Vinayaka Chavithi, and in Tamil Nadu Vinayagar Chaturthi. Names and sweets differ, but the devotion is the same.
Frequently asked questions
Which aarti is sung for Ganesh Chaturthi?
Jai Ganesh Deva is sung in most North Indian homes. In Maharashtra, Sukhkarta Dukhharta is also very popular.
How long should Ganesha stay at home?
Families keep the idol for 1.5, 3, 5, 7 or 10 days according to their own custom, then perform visarjan.
What is the best idol for home?
A small clay (shadu mati) idol that dissolves in a bucket at home is the most eco-friendly choice.