Ganesh Chaturthi 2026

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and the god of beginnings, wisdom, and learning. He is worshipped at the start of any new venture, making this festival especially important for Hindus. The festival is celebrated with great fervor across India, particularly in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. It was given a public and community dimension by Lokmanya Tilak in 1893 as a means of promoting Indian culture and nationalism. The ten-day festival culminates with the immersion (Visarjan) of Ganesha idols in water, symbolizing the cycle of creation and dissolution.

According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati created Ganesha from turmeric paste (or sandalwood) and breathed life into the figure. She asked him to guard her while she bathed. When Lord Shiva returned and tried to enter, Ganesha, not knowing who Shiva was, stopped him. In anger, Shiva severed Ganesha's head. When Parvati discovered this, she was grief-stricken. To console her, Shiva sent his followers to bring the head of the first creature they found sleeping with its head facing north. They found an elephant and brought its head, which Shiva placed on Ganesha's body, bringing him back to life. Shiva blessed Ganesha to be worshipped first before any deity or auspicious occasion, making him the "Vighneshwara" - the lord who removes obstacles.