Archive · 1 Sep 2026
How to Plan a Maharashtra Trip for Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha.
In 2026, it begins on September 14 and ends with Ganesh Visarjan on September 25.
People bring Ganesha idols into homes and public pandals.
They pray, eat special foods and enjoy music and cultural programmes.
Mumbai is a popular place to see the festival because its streets and pandals have very large celebrations.
The last few days have big processions, but they are also the busiest.
Pune is another good city for seeing traditional celebrations.
Visitors should plan hotels, travel routes and pandal visits early.
Modak and puran poli are two festival foods travellers can try.
Ganesh Chaturthi begins on September 14, 2026, with Ganesh Visarjan scheduled for September 25.
Mumbai hosts grand celebrations, including major pandals such as Lalbaugcha Raja, Ganesh Galli and Andheri Cha Raja.
The final festival days offer large immersion processions but are also expected to be the most crowded.
Pune offers famous pandals and traditional celebrations, while Lonavala and Khandala are possible short-trip additions.
Visitors should book hotels early, expect traffic diversions, and try festive foods including modak and puran poli.
- Who
- People celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi and visitors travelling to Maharashtra.
- What
- A travel guide for experiencing the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival, its pandals and immersion processions.
- When
- Ganesh Chaturthi falls on September 14, 2026, and Ganesh Visarjan takes place on September 25.
- Where
- Primarily Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra, with possible short trips to Lonavala and Khandala.
- Why
- To experience the festival's prayers, pandals, cultural programmes, processions and traditional food.
- Festival
- Ganesh Chaturthi
- Start date
- September 14, 2026
- Visarjan date
- September 25, 2026
- Main destination
- Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Other major destination
- Pune
- Major Mumbai pandals
- Lalbaugcha Raja, Ganesh Galli, Andheri Cha Raja and pandals in Parel and Lalbaug
- Popular foods
- Ukadiche modak and puran poli