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Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Kolkata Puja Time, Rituals & Shopping List
Ganesh Chaturthi falls on 14 September this year. Here you'll find the correct puja time for Kolkata, the full list of items you need, and the steps to welcome Bappa home.
Monday, 14 September 2026
Best puja time in Kolkata
10:18 AM – 12:46 PM
- Tritiya tithi, until 7:06 AM
- Chaturthi tithi, from 7:06 AM
- Madhyahna puja window
- Chaturthi tithi
- 7:06 AM, 14 Sep to 7:44 AM, 15 Sep
- Visarjan
- Friday, 25 September 2026
When is Ganesh Chaturthi 2026?
Ganesh Chaturthi falls on Monday, 14 September 2026, in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada. The Chaturthi tithi starts at 7:06 AM on 14 September and ends at 7:44 AM on 15 September.
The best time to bring Ganpati home and do the puja is the afternoon (Madhyahna), since Lord Ganesha is believed to have been born at that time of day. In Kolkata this year, that window is 10:18 AM to 12:46 PM on 14 September. The timing varies from city to city.
The celebration lasts 10 days and ends with Visarjan, when the idol is immersed in water, on 25 September 2026.
Why some people are confused about the date
Hartalika Teej usually comes one day before Ganesh Chaturthi. This year, both fall on 14 September. Early in the morning the tithi is still Tritiya, and it changes to Chaturthi only later in the day.
Ganesh puja is done at midday, not early morning, so the correct day is still 14 September.
What you need for the puja
Keep these ready before the puja. Tick items off as you collect them.
0 of 26 ready
Idol and setup
Puja items
Flowers and leaves
Lamp and aarti
Prasad
Steps to do the puja
Follow these steps in order.
Get ready
Wake up early, take a bath and wear clean clothes.
Purify the puja area
Clean the puja area and sprinkle some gangajal on it.
Set up the chowki
Place the wooden table facing north or east and cover it with a clean cloth.
Prepare the seat
Draw a swastik on the table and put a small pile of rice where the idol will sit.
Take the sankalp
Hold water, rice and a flower in your right hand. Decide how many days Ganpati will stay at home (one and a half, three, five or ten days), then let the water fall from your hand.
Welcome Bappa
During the puja time, 10:18 AM to 12:46 PM, place the idol on the rice, sprinkle gangajal on it and say “Om Gan Ganapataye Namah”.
Place the kalash
Fill the copper kalash with water and keep it next to the idol. Put a coin, betel nut and flowers inside, arrange mango leaves around the mouth, and place the coconut on top.
Offerings and aarti
Put sandalwood and roli tilak on the idol. Offer rice, mauli, red hibiscus flowers, durva grass and bhog. Then light the ghee diya and sing the Ganesh aarti.
Daily puja and visarjan
Do the puja and aarti every morning and evening for as many days as Ganpati stays at home. On the last day, do the visarjan.
Frequently asked questions
When is Ganesh Chaturthi in 2026?
It falls on Monday, 14 September 2026.
What is the correct puja time for Kolkata?
The best time is 10:18 AM to 12:46 PM on 14 September 2026.
Why are people confused about the date this year?
Because Hartalika Teej falls on the same day. Since Ganesh puja is done at midday, 14 September is still the correct day.
When is Ganesh Visarjan in 2026?
Visarjan is on Friday, 25 September 2026, when the 10-day celebration ends.
What items do I need for the puja?
A Ganesha idol, copper kalash, durva grass, roli, sandalwood, rice, red hibiscus flowers, mauli thread, ghee diya, dry fruits, sugar candy and modak. The full checklist is above.
