3, 5 and 7-Day Ganpati Visarjan 2026: Shubh Muhurat, Puja Vidhi and Rules
Ganpati Bappa arrived in our homes on Monday, 14 September 2026. Not every family keeps him for the full ten days. Many households do visarjan on the third, fifth or seventh day, depending on family tradition, work schedules and how long they can offer daily seva.
If you are planning one of these shorter visarjans, this guide gives you the exact 2026 dates, the shubh muhurat for each day, the step-by-step uttar puja vidhi, and the rules most families follow before saying "Ganpati Bappa Morya, pudhchya varshi lavkar ya."
Ganpati Visarjan 2026 Dates for 3, 5 and 7 Days
The 3-day visarjan is on Wednesday, 16 September 2026. The 5-day visarjan is on Friday, 18 September 2026. The 7-day visarjan is on Sunday, 20 September 2026. The final visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi is on Friday, 25 September 2026.
| Observance | Visarjan Date 2026 | Day | Best Morning Muhurat | Best Evening Muhurat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sthapana (Ganesh Chaturthi) | 14 September 2026 | Monday | – | – |
| 1.5-day (Dedh Din) | 15 September 2026 | Tuesday | 12:16 PM to 1:49 PM | 7:54 PM to 9:21 PM |
| 3rd day | 16 September 2026 | Wednesday | 6:06 AM to 9:11 AM | 7:53 PM to 12:16 AM |
| 5th day | 18 September 2026 | Friday | 6:07 AM to 10:43 AM | 9:19 PM to 10:47 PM |
| 7th day | 20 September 2026 | Sunday | 7:40 AM to 12:14 PM | 6:20 PM to 10:46 PM |
| Anant Chaturdashi (final day) | 25 September 2026 | Friday | 6:11 AM to 10:42 AM | 9:14 PM to 10:43 PM |
Timings are for New Delhi. Full choghadiya windows for the 3rd, 5th and 7th day are given in the muhurat section below.
One point often confuses first-time hosts. The "day count" starts from Sthapana day itself. So 14 September is Day 1, 15 September is Day 2, and 16 September is Day 3. That is why the 3-day visarjan falls on 16 September and not 17 September.
Why Do Families Do Visarjan on the 3rd, 5th or 7th Day?
Shorter visarjans are a long-standing tradition, not a shortcut. The number of days a family keeps Ganpati is usually decided by kul parampara (family custom) and is passed down through generations.
There are a few practical reasons as well:
- Daily seva is a commitment. Ganpati needs morning and evening aarti, fresh naivedya, and a family member present at all times. Many working families choose 3 or 5 days so this can be done properly.
- Odd numbers are considered auspicious in Hindu tradition. That is why Ganpati is kept for 1.5, 3, 5, 7 or 11 days, and rarely for an even number of days.
- In Maharashtra, some families time their Ganpati visarjan with Gauri visarjan, which usually falls between the fifth and seventh day.
Whatever the duration, the shastra view is simple: the bhav (devotion) matters more than the number of days. A 3-day Ganpati served with love is as complete as an 11-day one.
Shubh Muhurat for Ganpati Visarjan 2026
Visarjan is done in a shubh choghadiya, mainly Chara, Labh, Amrit or Shubh. Udveg, Rog and Kaal choghadiya are avoided, and so is Rahu Kaal.
The timings below are indicative for New Delhi. Choghadiya shifts by a few minutes from city to city, so check your local panchang before you fix the time. The windows are generous, so most families will find a slot that suits them.
3rd Day Visarjan Muhurat: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
| Window | Choghadiya | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Labh, Amrit | 6:06 AM to 9:11 AM |
| Late morning | Shubh | 10:43 AM to 12:16 PM |
| Afternoon | Chara, Labh | 3:20 PM to 6:25 PM |
| Evening | Shubh, Amrit, Chara | 7:53 PM to 12:16 AM (17 September) |
Avoid Rahu Kaal on Wednesday, which falls roughly between 12:15 PM and 1:45 PM.
5th Day Visarjan Muhurat: Friday, 18 September 2026
| Window | Choghadiya | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Chara, Labh, Amrit | 6:07 AM to 10:43 AM |
| Afternoon | Shubh | 12:15 PM to 1:47 PM |
| Late afternoon | Chara | 4:51 PM to 6:23 PM |
| Night | Labh | 9:19 PM to 10:47 PM |
Avoid Rahu Kaal on Friday, which falls roughly between 10:45 AM and 12:15 PM.
7th Day Visarjan Muhurat: Sunday, 20 September 2026
| Window | Choghadiya | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Chara, Labh, Amrit | 7:40 AM to 12:14 PM |
| Afternoon | Shubh | 1:46 PM to 3:17 PM |
| Evening | Shubh, Amrit, Chara | 6:20 PM to 10:46 PM |
Avoid Rahu Kaal on Sunday, which falls roughly between 4:45 PM and 6:15 PM.
If a good muhurat is not possible because of travel or the queue at the immersion ghat, do not worry. Complete the uttar puja at home within the muhurat and carry out the immersion when you can. The uttar puja is the true farewell; the immersion is its completion.
Ganpati Visarjan Puja Vidhi (Uttar Puja) Step by Step
Uttar puja is the closing puja performed before the murti is moved from its place. It is short and can be done by the head of the family without a purohit. Here is the vidhi most homes follow.
What You Will Need
- Fresh flowers and durva (three or five blades in a bundle)
- Haldi, kumkum, akshat (unbroken rice)
- Diya, agarbatti and camphor for aarti
- Naivedya: modak, laddoo, coconut or any sweet Bappa was offered during the festival
- Supari, dakshina and a small cloth pouch of rice and jaggery for the return journey
- A clean cloth or wooden patla to carry the murti
Most of these will already be at hand from the festival; our Ganesh Chaturthi samagri checklist covers the full list.
Step 1: Perform the Final Aarti
Begin with the regular morning or evening aarti, "Sukhkarta Dukhharta". Light the diya and camphor, ring the bell, and let every family member take part. Offer naivedya and share it as prasad.
Step 2: Offer Fresh Puja
Apply haldi and kumkum to Bappa. Offer akshat, flowers and durva. Many families also offer a fresh red cloth or a new janeu on this day.
Step 3: Recite the Ganesh Mantras
Chant "Om Gan Ganapataye Namah" 11, 21 or 108 times. Recite the Ganapati Atharvashirsha if it is part of your family practice. Keep the chanting unhurried.
Step 4: Pray for Forgiveness (Kshama Prarthana)
Fold your hands and ask Bappa to forgive any mistake made during the puja, knowingly or unknowingly. The common shloka is:
"Aavahanam na janami, na janami visarjanam, pujam chaiva na janami, kshamasva Parameshwara."
It means: I do not know the right way to invite you or to bid you farewell, nor the proper puja; forgive me, O Lord.
Step 5: Pack the Shidori (Journey Provisions)
Tie a small pouch of rice, jaggery, a coin and sometimes a laddoo. Place it near the murti. This is Bappa's shidori for his journey back to Kailash. It is a beautiful tradition that children love to take part in.
Step 6: Move the Murti Gently
Shift the murti a few inches from its place three times, while saying "Ganpati Bappa Morya, pudhchya varshi lavkar ya." This symbolically tells Bappa that it is time to leave. Then lift the murti carefully and place it on the patla or tray.
Step 7: Take the Akshat and Flowers Along
Collect the akshat, flowers and durva offered during the festival. Carry them with the murti and immerse them together. Do not throw them in the dustbin.
Step 8: Immersion
Carry Bappa to the immersion spot with bhajans and the sound of the dhol or the family clapping along. Dip the murti gently three times before letting it go fully. Stand for a moment, bow, and take the water as tirtha on your head.
Step 9: Return Home and Sprinkle Water
On returning, sprinkle a little water at the entrance and on the puja sthan. Some families place a photo of Ganpati where the murti was kept, and light a diya that evening.
Rules to Follow During Ganpati Visarjan
These rules come from tradition and common sense. They keep the farewell respectful and safe.
Do
- Do the uttar puja before moving the murti. Never carry Bappa out without the closing puja.
- Keep the murti upright and covered while travelling. A clean cloth on top is enough.
- Immerse in a clean water body, or use an artificial tank arranged by your municipal body. Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and most large cities set these up every year.
- Take the flowers, durva and akshat from the whole festival and immerse them along with the murti.
- Go as a family. Visarjan is a family moment, and elders and children should be part of it.
Do Not
- Do not leave the house empty on visarjan day before the murti has left. Someone should stay with Bappa until the uttar puja is done.
- Do not do visarjan during Rahu Kaal or an inauspicious choghadiya if you can avoid it.
- Do not immerse a plaster of Paris (PoP) murti in a river, lake, or sea. Most states now prohibit this, and it harms the water. Use an artificial tank for PoP murtis.
- Do not immerse plastic, thermocol, LED lights or synthetic decorations. Remove them before immersion.
- Do not immerse a murti that is permanently kept in your home mandir. Only the festival murti brought for Ganeshotsav is immersed. The "shadow" clay or metal Ganpati that some families keep with the festival murti stays at home.
- Do not step into deep or fast-flowing water yourself. Use the volunteers, boats or cranes at the ghat.
Eco-Friendly Visarjan: What Devotees Are Doing Now
A clay (shadu mati) murti dissolves in water in a few hours and leaves no residue. This is the traditional material, and it is the easiest way to keep the visarjan clean.
Many families now do visarjan at home in a bucket or tub. After the uttar puja, the clay murti is immersed in water, left to dissolve overnight, and the water is poured into a plant pot or a tulsi bed. Some cities also run "murti daan" drives, where you can hand over the murti after uttar puja and the civic body immerses it in a proper way.
Both methods are accepted. The Shastras say the visarjan must be in "jal" (water); they do not demand a river.
Which Visarjan Day Is Best: 3, 5 or 7?
There is no "better" day. The best day is the one your family can honour fully.
- Choose the 3rd day if you cannot commit to daily aarti and naivedya beyond mid-week, or if your family custom is Teen Divsacha Ganpati.
- Choose the 5th day if you want a slightly longer festival and can host relatives over the weekend. In 2026 it falls on a Friday, which many families find convenient.
- Choose the 7th day if your family follows Gauri visarjan, or if you want the murti to leave on a Sunday when everyone is at home.
Once you have chosen a duration, keep it consistent every year. Changing the number of days each year is discouraged in most family traditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do the 3-day visarjan on 17 September instead of 16 September? Traditionally, no. Sthapana day counts as Day 1, so the 3rd day is 16 September 2026. If you must delay, move to the next odd day, which is the 5th day on 18 September.
Is there a specific tithi for 3, 5 and 7-day visarjan? No. Only Anant Chaturdashi (the final day) is tied to a tithi. The shorter visarjans are counted by days from Sthapana, so the muhurat depends on the choghadiya of that day, not the tithi.
Can women perform the uttar puja and visarjan? Yes. There is no restriction. In many homes the women of the family lead the aarti and uttar puja.
What if the murti breaks during visarjan? It is not considered inauspicious. Complete the immersion, bow, and say the kshama prarthana once more. Bappa is being returned to the elements; a broken murti does not change that.
Do I need to keep a fast on visarjan day? Fasting is not required. Many families eat a light satvik meal and share the last prasad after the uttar puja.
Can I do visarjan at night? Yes, as long as it is within a shubh choghadiya. On all three days in 2026 there are good evening and night windows, listed in the muhurat tables above.
What should be done with the mandap and decorations after visarjan? Clean the area, keep the cloth and reusable decorations for next year, and place a picture or a small permanent murti of Ganpati in that spot. Light a diya there in the evening.
Conclusion
Ganpati's stay may be short, but the farewell deserves the same care as the welcome. Fix your visarjan day, pick a shubh muhurat from the tables above, gather the family for uttar puja, and carry Bappa out with bhajans and a full heart.
If you are unsure about the choghadiya for your city, check the local panchang in DevMarg's Muhurat section before you set out. And if you are planning a temple darshan or a yatra to Ashtavinayak or Siddhivinayak after the festival, DevMarg's Yatra planner can help you plan the route and timings. For the sthapana side of the festival, see our Ganesh Chaturthi puja vidhi at home.
Ganpati Bappa Morya. Pudhchya varshi lavkar ya.
