The complete ritual sequence for welcoming and honouring Lord Ganesha at home, from sthapana to visarjan.
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha and, in most traditions, unfolds over ten days from Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi to Anant Chaturdashi. The sequence below follows Avyani's Master Puja & Ritual Catalogue and describes the widely observed household form; regional practice — including the Tamil observance known as Pillayar Chaturthi — varies in detail, and a family priest can advise on the customs specific to your tradition.
1. Ganapati Sthapana — Installation
The festival opens with Ganapati Sthapana: the ceremonial installation and life-invocation (prana pratishtha) of a Ganesha murti at home, in a temple or community pandal. This is typically the most elaborate stage of the sequence, taking one to two hours, and is often performed with a priest.
2. Vinayaka Chaturthi Puja — Daily Worship
Once installed, the murti is worshipped daily with the sixteen-step (shodashopachara) sequence — flowers, incense, lamp and food offerings — along with the recitation of Ganesha mantras or the Ganapati Atharvashirsha. The main Vinayaka Chaturthi Puja, marking the birth itself, is usually the most elaborate of these daily observances, lasting two to three hours.
3. Modak Naivedya Seva — The Offering
Modaks, Ganesha's favourite sweet, are prepared and offered as naivedya each day of the festival, along with durva grass and red flowers. This simple, joyful ritual is central to the household celebration.
4. Ganesh Visarjan — Immersion
The festival concludes with Ganesh Visarjan: the ceremonial immersion of the murti in a river, sea or, increasingly, a home vessel of water, returning the elements to nature. Many families observe this on the first, third, fifth or seventh day, while communities and larger installations typically conclude on Anant Chaturdashi with a dedicated Ganesh Visarjan Anant Chaturdashi Puja beforehand.
A Note on Regional Variation
The core sequence above — installation, daily worship, offering and immersion — is shared widely, but the specific mantras, offerings and timing vary by region and family tradition. Avyani documents these variations, including Pillayar Chaturthi in Tamil Nadu, without treating any single regional form as more authentic than another. For the broader family of Ganesha worship beyond this festival, see our overview of Ganapati Rituals.