Sthapana
The installation day — prana pratishtha invokes Ganesha into the idol, with a full puja and havan.
FESTIVAL CEREMONY
Ganesh Chaturthi Puja
The festival welcoming Lord Ganesha into the home — from the sthapana (installation) of the idol through daily aarti to the final visarjan (immersion).
About This Ceremony
What it is, and when it's performed
Ganesh Chaturthi marks the birth of Lord Ganesha and is celebrated by installing a clay idol at home or in the community for a fixed number of days (commonly 1.5, 5, 7, or 11 days), performing daily puja and aarti, and finally immersing the idol in water (visarjan).
The sthapana (installation) puja is the most elaborate day — invoking Ganesha into the idol with a formal prana pratishtha, followed by offerings of modak, durva grass, and red flowers, which Ganesha is especially associated with.
Every day the idol remains at home, a shorter puja and aarti is performed morning and evening — this is where most families want a reliable, repeatable guide rather than relearning the sequence from scratch each year.
What It Involves
The key moments of the ceremony
Daily aarti
Morning and evening aarti performed on every day the idol stays at home.
Modak offering
Ganesha's favourite sweet, offered daily as naivedya.
Visarjan
The idol is immersed in water on the final day, symbolizing Ganesha's return and the cycle of creation.
A Core Mantra
One of the mantras chanted during this puja
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
The core Ganesha mantra — invoked at the start of the sthapana and before every session of chanting through the festival.
Two Ways To Do This
Guide yourself, or have a pandit come to you
Ritvik
Chanting in true Vedic meter with plain-spoken guidance for this ceremony, step by step, in your language.
At Home Puja
A verified pandit performs the full ceremony at your home, vetted for authentic Vedic knowledge and professional conduct.
Frequently Asked
Ganesh Chaturthi Puja — common questions
How many days is Ganesh Chaturthi typically celebrated for at home?
Most families choose 1.5, 5, 7, or 11 days, though some keep the idol for the full 10 days (Ananta Chaturdashi) before visarjan — it depends on family tradition.
Can I perform the daily aarti myself without a pandit?
Yes — the daily puja is meant to be simple enough for the family to do on their own. Ritvik guides the full sthapana-to-visarjan sequence with chanting and step-by-step instruction in Hindi, Marathi, or English.
What should be offered to Ganesha daily?
Durva grass, red flowers (especially hibiscus), and modak are the most traditional daily offerings, along with a simple aarti morning and evening.
Do I need a pandit for the sthapana (installation) day specifically?
Many families do the sthapana with a pandit given its length and the prana pratishtha ritual, then continue the simpler daily puja themselves — that combination is exactly what At Home Puja plus Ritvik is built for.
Explore More
Other ceremonies
Free to begin, in the Ritva app.
Guide yourself through Ganesh Chaturthi Puja with Ritvik, or book a verified pandit for the full ceremony.