If there’s a celebration that fills most of India’s streets with joy and grandeur for 11 days, it has to be Ganesh Chaturthi. In 2025, this 11-day festival will be celebrated starting from Wednesday, August 27, marking the arrival of Lord Ganesha in millions of households and pandals across India (and even abroad). On the other hand, Anant Chaturdashi, the last or 11th day of Ganeshotsav 2025, will fall on September 6, 2025. If you’re getting ready to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi at home or planning to visit the lively pandals, there’s plenty to look forward to. Here’s a festival guide to help you navigate Ganesh Chaturthi 2025.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2025: Dates, Significance, History, And More
History Of Ganesh Chaturthi
The history of how Ganesh Chaturthi emerged and gained prominence, particularly in the Indian state of Maharashtra, is quite fascinating.
The festival was a widely celebrated event in Pune, Maharashtra, especially by the royal Peshwa family. The Peshwas were ardent devotees of Lord Ganesha, so the celebrations were grand and respected in the entire Peshwa Empire.
However, after the fall of the Peshwa Empire, the festival lost state patronage for a few decades and centuries.
While the celebration hadn’t lost itself completely over time, it was rare, unorganized, and way less popular than what it is today.
When a Pune resident visited Gwalior and observed the traditional Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, he informed it to Javale or Bhau Rangari, who then celebrated the first public Ganesh Chaturthi celebration in Pune.
In the 19th century, Indian freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak played a significant role in reviving the festival. His efforts aimed to encourage public gatherings during a time when the British authorities were discouraging such events.
He addressed the public to come together and stand united to celebrate this festival. He encouraged people to engage in public celebrations, established the practice of immersing Ganesha idols in water bodies, and tried to portray the festival as a celebration of India and Maharashtra’s collective identity.
As people started celebrating the festival, Ganesh Chaturthi started emerging as a meeting ground for people of all castes and communities. It garnered widespread popularity across India and emerged as a vibrant festival in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Goa.
Significance Of Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival honoring Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Lord Ganesha is revered as the deity of wisdom, arts, knowledge, and new beginnings.
Lord Ganesha is commonly worshipped before any other deity in the Hindu Pantheon, as it is believed that doing so ensures guaranteed success in any life event or celebration.
Ganesh Chaturthi is mainly observed in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh. While it is celebrated in other states, celebrations are not as grand as those in the states mentioned above.
How Is Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrated?
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated over various durations. Some people observe it for just 1.5 days, while others may celebrate for 3, 5, 7, or even 11 days. Additionally, some celebrations are aligned with the arrival of Gauri idols, a practice commonly seen in Goa and Maharashtra.
Family Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations include ritualistic installation of Ganesha idols at home and worshipping them each day. Devotees sing praises, hymns, and participate in aartis, along with special programs like bhajans and kirtans.
In the Konkan region, celebrations are even more fun and diverse. Villages and towns celebrate the festival by organizing cultural events, such as the folk theater of Dashavtar, depicting the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
Men from these rural communities also participate in youthful dances, whereas women participate in the ritualistic worship of Goddess Gauri.
In each household and pandal, you’ll find the Ganesha idol decorated with garlands, hibiscus flowers, and durva – a kind of grass-like vegetation. Moreover, food during this festival is of special importance, particularly a sweet treat called modak.
Usually steamed (called ukdiche modak), the modak is a dumpling-like food item featuring an outer covering of rice flour and a filling of jaggery, cardamom, and grated coconut.
Lord Ganesha loves modaks and this is why this sweet dish is offered to him on each day of the festival.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 Date
Ganesh Chaturthi: August 27, 2025
The festival falls on the Chaturthi (fourth day) of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada
Ganesh Visarjan after 3 days: August 29, 2025
Ganesh Visarjan after 5 days: August 31, 2025
Ganesh Visarjan after 7 days: September 2, 2025
Anant Chaturdashi/ Visarjan: September 6, 2025
The festival ends on the Chaturdashi (fourteenth day) of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada.
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Summing Up
Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival of joy and celebration dedicated to Lord Ganesha. With a deep history tracing back to the medieval times, the festival has emerged as one of the most anticipated Indian festivals. And that’s simply for its sheer grandiosity and festive fervor.
With celebrations set to take almost all across India, how excited are you for this festival?
