Ganeshotsav 2025: 10 Days of Grandeur in Maharashtra – Here’s the Complete Schedule

There’s something approximately Maharashtra at some point of Ganeshotsav that phrases can not fully seize. The air feels festive, streets get louder (within the excellent manner), homes smell of jaggery and ghee, and hearts experience fuller.

Ganeshotsav 2025 is right across the nook, and the celebrations will begin on Wednesday, August 27. 

 If you live in Maharashtra or have visited during this time, you know how the entire state transforms — from packed local trains in Mumbai to quiet morning aartis in small villages. But it’s not just about rituals — it’s about people coming together, sharing food, singing prayers, and celebrating one of the most loved gods in Hinduism: Lord Ganesha.

Ganeshotsav 2025 – Festival Dates at a Glance

Here’s a simple look at how the 10 days of Ganpati festival will unfold this year:

Some families prefer to immerse their idols on Day 5 or Day 7. Most public mandals go the full 10 days.

Day 1: Ganesh Chaturthi (August 27) – The Arrival of Bappa

The first day is always emotional. Families clean the residence, beautify with marigold garlands and mango leaves, and bring domestic the idol — frequently with song, claps, and heartfelt chants.

What usually happens:

• The Ganesha idol is placed on a raised platform at home or in a decorated pandal.
• Morning puja is done with durva grass, hibiscus flowers, and modaks.
• Aarti is done twice a day, usually with the whole family gathered.

In cities like Pune and Mumbai, people visit friends’ homes to see different idols. Some are traditional, while others have modern themes — eco, tech, even Bollywood!

Read more:- A Complete Guide to Durga Puja: Mahalaya to Vijaya Dashami

Days 2 to 4: Prayers, Bhajans, and Community Bonding

These days are quieter but deeply spiritual. Families follow a rhythm — puja, bhog, aarti, and then time with loved ones.

• Some neighborhoods hold bhajan evenings.
• Others organize kids’ drawing or shloka recitation events.
• People often exchange prasad — coconut barfis, puran poli, or banana sheera.

The joy here is not loud; it's comforting, familiar. The sound of a bell, the smell of agarbatti, the slight chaos in kitchens — all feel like home.

Day 5 (August 31): Early Visarjan for Some Homes

For those who bring Ganesha for 1.5 or 5 days, Day 5 is goodbye day. And this farewell is never easy.

People carry their idols, usually small ones, to local ponds or artificial tanks. There’s singing, clapping, and often — tears. It’s not just an idol leaving. It feels like a loved one going back home.

If you're doing visarjan at home, you can use a tub and later plant the remains under a tree. Many in Maharashtra now prefer eco-friendly immersion.

Days 6 to 8: Public Celebrations & Cultural Nights

By now, mandals are full of energy. Streets near big pandals are crowded — not just with people, but with lights, banners, music, and volunteers guiding traffic.

What’s common during these days:

• Cultural suggestions: Folk dances, dramas, making song competitions.
• Social work: Free health check-ups, blood donation camps.
• Thematic decoration: Some pandals highlight farmers’ lives, Indian soldiers, Chandrayaan missions, or climate change.

Some idols in places like Lalbaugcha Raja (Mumbai) or Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati (Pune) attract lakhs of visitors every single day.

Day 9: Gratitude & Preparation for Visarjan

This is the emotional part. Families who kept Bappa for 10 days start preparing for his farewell.

• Morning bhog is made with extra care.
• Special aartis are sung, often with neighbors joining in.
• Photos are taken. Little kids are told, “Say bye to Bappa!”

You’ll also see people applying a small tikka of sindoor on Bappa's forehead — a sign of respect and love before goodbye.

Day 10 (Sept 6): Anant Chaturdashi – The Grand Goodbye

In Mumbai, human beings stroll from pandals to Juhu Beach, Girgaon Chowpatty, or Versova, singing and dancing all the way. It’s a promise to welcome him again next year, with the same love.

Food During Ganeshotsav: Not Just Modak!

While modak steals the spotlight, there’s a whole spread of traditional food during these 10 days.

What you’ll find in Maharashtrian homes:

• Ukadiche Modak – steamed dumplings with coconut-jaggery inside.
• Puran Poli – sweet flatbread made of chana dal.
• Sabudana Khichdi – for those observing fasts.
• Batata Bhaji – spicy potato curry.
• Chivda, kothimbir vadi, and dry fruits as offerings.

Many people cook satvik food (no onion-garlic) during the entire 10 days.

Eco-Friendly Tips for Ganeshotsav 2025

It’s 2025 — and environmental awareness is no longer optional. Thankfully, Ganesh devotees have been stepping up.

Simple ways to go green:

• Choose a clay or paper mache idol.
• Decorate using fabric, leaves, and natural flowers.
• Avoid plastic flowers, thermocol, and loud firecrackers.
• Do home visarjan in a tub and later plant the idol remains.

Even mandals have started using solar lights, compost bins, and recyclable materials.

Quick Checklist Before August 27

Here’s what you’ll want to tick off before the festival begins:

•  Book eco-friendly idol by mid-August
•  Gather puja items (diyas, agarbatti, ghee, flowers)
•  Clean and decorate puja space
•  Prep ingredients for modak & prasad
•  Charge your speakers for bhajans
•  Arrange visarjan setup (tub or plan route)

Final Thoughts: It’s Not Just a Festival. It’s a Feeling.

Ganeshotsav in Maharashtra isn’t only about rituals or food.  It’s about believing that everything that begins with faith finds its way. So as August 27 approaches, maybe pause a little. Maybe light a diya. Maybe clean a small corner of your home and tell Bappa he’s welcome. Not just for 10 days — but always.Because the murti goes away. But the blessings stay.
Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya!