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Hindu festival · San Francisco Bay Area
Ganesh Chaturthi
Dates for the Bay Area
- Monday, 14 September 2026Major festivalnext
- Friday, 3 September 2027Major festival
Why it matters
Celebrates Ganesha’s appearance and invokes wisdom and the removal of obstacles before new beginnings.
The story behind it
Many traditions narrate Ganesha’s creation by Parvati and his restoration by Shiva with an elephant head; the festival also emphasizes bringing the divine into home and community life.
Prayers and worship
Ganesha pooja, pranapratishtha where idols are installed, “Om Gam Ganapataye Namah,” Ganesha Atharvashirsha, bhajans and arati.
Fasting and devotional customs
Fasting and household customs vary; follow the temple or family tradition for this observance.
What is typically offered
Modak, durva grass, red flowers, coconut, fruit and lamps.
Visiting a temple that day
Public and temple celebrations may include decorated Ganesha images, cultural programs and later visarjan. Visitors should follow the temple’s rules around processions and immersion.
Spiritual themes
Wisdom, auspicious beginnings, humility and letting go.
Request this pooja
Sri Kumar Gurukkal performs Ganesh Chaturthi observances at your home, at a temple, or with family joining remotely.
Request a pooja Add 14 Sep 2026 to calendarKeep this in your calendar
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Subscribe to the festival calendar Share on WhatsAppThis date was validated against a location-specific Northern-California Panchāṅgam source. Dates are compiled for the Fremont / Bay Area location and checked against Northern-California Panchāṅgam references. They can differ from a calendar computed for another city or another sampradāya. Please confirm any date on which you plan a ceremony with Sri Kumar Gurukkal. How these dates are calculated →