Telugu Festival
వినాయక చవితి
Vinayaka Chavithi
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 — 10-day festival in Andhra & Telangana
2026 Date
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
శ్రావణం బహుళ undefined, పరాభవ నామ సంవత్సరం
Panchangam for Vinayaka Chavithi 2026
📍 Hyderabad, IST · September 16, 2026
Tithi
Krishna Paksha undefined
బహుళ undefined
Vara
Wednesday
బుధవారం
Nakshatra
Yoga
Karana
Timings (Hyderabad IST)
Rahu Kalam
12:11 pm – 1:43 pm
Gulika Kalam
10:39 am – 12:11 pm
Yamagandam
7:36 am – 9:08 am
Abhijit Muhurtham
11:47 am – 12:35 pm
Sunrise / Sunset
6:04 am / 6:18 pm
Muhurta Guidance
The Madhyanam (midday) on Chavithi is the most auspicious time for Pranapratishtha and the first puja. The Chaturthi tithi must be active at local noon for the installation to be considered fully auspicious. Check the tithi end time on the panchangam below.
Significance — ప్రాధాన్యత
Vinayaka Chavithi (Ganesh Chaturthi) is one of the most joyously celebrated festivals in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, commencing on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. In 2026, the festival begins on September 16 and concludes ten days later with Ganesh Visarjan (Anantha Chavithi). Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, is the remover of obstacles (Vighnaharta) and the lord of new beginnings.
The festival was popularised as a large public celebration by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1893 as a means to bring communities together. In Telugu states, it has grown into a massive community event with neighbourhood (colony) Ganesha installations, cultural programmes, and city-wide processions.
On the first day (Chavithi), clay idols of Ganesha are installed in homes and public pandals. After 1, 3, 5, 7, or 10 days of puja, the idol is ceremonially immersed (visarjanam) in a water body — symbolising the return of the divine to the cosmic ocean.
Vinayaka Chavithi also commemorates the day Ganesha wrote the Mahabharata as dictated by Sage Veda Vyasa — making it especially sacred for students, writers, and scholars.
Rituals — పూజా విధానం
Install a clay Ganesha idol — eco-friendly options are strongly preferred
Perform Pranapratishtha (consecration) to invite the deity's presence into the idol
Offer 21 modakas (sweet dumplings) — Ganesha's favourite food
Recite Ganesha Atharvasheersha and Vigneshwara Ashtottaram (108 names)
Offer doorva (3-bladed grass), red flowers, and red sandalwood paste
Daily morning and evening aarti with camphor (karpooram)
On the final day, perform Uttara Puja and then Visarjanam — immersion in a lake, river or designated tank
Chant "Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Laukar Ya" during the procession
Telugu Traditions — తెలుగు సంప్రదాయాలు
Enormous public Ganesha pandals in Hyderabad — Khairatabad Ganesha (one of the tallest idols in India, 60+ feet), Balapur Ganesha famous for the coconut auction, and hundreds of colony Ganeshas
Laddu auction at Balapur — the first laddu offered to Balapur Ganesha is auctioned publicly; bids reach lakhs of rupees and the buyer is believed to receive Ganesha's special blessings
Ganesh processions (shobha yatras) with drums, dhol-tasha, and devotional music winding through city streets
Cultural programmes — music, dance, and skits performed in front of community pandals every evening
The 10-day Vrat — devotees visit 108 Ganesha pandals (Shanivaram in Hyderabad) for merit
Moon sighting taboo on Chaturthi — looking at the moon on this specific day is said to invite false accusations; if seen accidentally, recite the Shyamantaka story or hear the Sthalapurana
Traditional Foods — పండుగ వంటలు
Modak (Kudumu)
steamed rice dumpling filled with coconut and jaggery, Ganesha's favourite
Undrallu
steamed rice flour balls offered as naivedyam
Vella Seedai
sweet sesame rice snack
Chakkilam
crispy fried snack
Bellam Paramannam
jaggery rice kheer as prasadam
Kobbari Laddu
coconut and jaggery balls
Related Festivals
2026 Telugu Calendar
All festivals, Ekadashis, Pournami and auspicious dates