Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Delhi, Mumbai idol installation timings and immersion dates

The Ganeshotsav festival is just days away. This year, on September 14, 2026, Bappa will be installed in homes and public pandals across the country. While the date of Ganesh Chaturthi is the same nationwide, the auspicious time for idol installation varies from city to city.

In Delhi, the installation can be done from 11:02 am, while in Mumbai the auspicious time begins 18 minutes later, at 11:20 am. Any generic auspicious time seen online should not be assumed to apply to your own city, since sunrise, sunset and midday timings differ from place to place. This is why, according to the Hindu Panchang, the installation timings for Delhi and Mumbai differ.

According to the Panchang, the Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi tithi begins at 7:06 am on September 14 and ends at 7:44 am on September 15. Although the Chaturthi tithi extends into the morning of September 15, the installation of Lord Ganesh will still take place on September 14. This is because the installation is not decided solely by the sunrise tithi, but by importance given to the Chaturthi tithi prevailing during midday. It is believed that Lord Ganesh was born during midday, and on September 14 the Chaturthi tithi is present during that midday period.

In Delhi, the auspicious time for the installation and worship of Ganpati on September 14 will last from 11:02 am to 1:31 pm, giving devotees about 2 hours and 28 minutes for the puja. The seat, materials and mandap for a home puja should be prepared in advance.

In Mumbai, the installation time will begin 18 minutes later than in Delhi. Here, the consecration and worship of Bappa can be performed from 11:20 am to 1:48 pm on September 14. Whether at a public pandal or at home, even if the idol is brought in earlier, it is considered best to perform the actual consecration and puja at the local midday auspicious time.

Although both cities follow Indian Standard Time (IST), their sunrise and sunset timings differ. According to the Vedic Panchang, the period from sunrise to sunset is divided into several parts, one of which is called midday. This period is considered the most auspicious for Ganesh puja, and it depends on local time. This is why Delhi's midday period does not apply to Mumbai, and Mumbai's does not apply to Delhi.

There is no need to look for separate auspicious times for the installation and the main puja. The idol installation, consecration and main puja should all be completed within the midday Ganesh puja period. At the time of installation, a red or yellow cloth should be spread on a clean seat and the idol of Ganesh placed on it. A kalash filled with water should be installed and the puja vow taken. Bappa should be offered gulal, akshat, flowers, durva grass, fruit and modak. Finally, aarti should be performed and prasad distributed to all.

The main immersion of this ten-day festival will take place on Friday, September 25, 2026, on Anant Chaturdashi. The Anant Chaturdashi tithi begins at 11:18 pm on September 24 and ends at 11:06 pm on September 25. As per household tradition, devotees can also immerse the idol on other days: one-and-a-half-day immersion on September 15, 2026; third-day immersion on September 16, 2026; fifth-day immersion on September 18, 2026; seventh-day immersion on September 20, 2026; and the main immersion on Anant Chaturdashi, September 25, 2026.