Astrologger2026 Vinayaka Chaturthi Dates
Vinayaka (or Varad) Chaturthi is the Shukla-paksha Chaturthi of every lunar month, dedicated to Ganesha. Unlike Sankashti, the fast is broken at midday — no moon sighting is needed. The Bhadrapada Vinayaka Chaturthi is the great Ganesh Chaturthi. Dates below are computed for New Delhi.
| Date | Day | Name | Paksha / Month | Tithi Begins | Tithi Ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jan 2026 | Thu | Vinayaka Chaturthi (Magha) | Shukla · Magha | 22 Jan, 2:47 AM | 23 Jan, 2:29 AM |
| 21 Feb 2026 | Sat | Vinayaka Chaturthi (Phalguna) | Shukla · Phalguna | 20 Feb, 2:39 PM | 21 Feb, 1:1 PM |
| 22 Mar 2026 | Sun | Vinayaka Chaturthi (Chaitra) | Shukla · Chaitra | 21 Mar, 11:57 PM | 22 Mar, 9:17 PM |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Mon | Vinayaka Chaturthi (Vaishakha) | Shukla · Vaishakha | 19 Apr, 10:50 AM | 20 Apr, 7:28 AM |
| 19 May 2026 | Tue | Adhika Jyeshtha Vinayaka ChaturthiAdhika | Shukla · Jyeshtha | 18 May, 5:53 PM | 19 May, 2:19 PM |
| 18 Jun 2026 | Thu | Vinayaka Chaturthi (Jyeshtha) | Shukla · Jyeshtha | 17 Jun, 9:39 PM | 18 Jun, 6:59 PM |
| 17 Jul 2026 | Fri | Vinayaka Chaturthi (Ashadha) | Shukla · Ashadha | 16 Jul, 8:53 AM | 17 Jul, 6:28 AM |
| 16 Aug 2026 | Sun | Vinayaka Chaturthi (Shravana) | Shukla · Shravana | 15 Aug, 5:29 PM | 16 Aug, 4:53 PM |
| 14 Sept 2026UPCOMING | Mon | Vinayaka Chaturthi (Bhadrapada) | Shukla · Bhadrapada | 13 Sept, 7:9 AM | 14 Sept, 7:7 AM |
| 14 Oct 2026 | Wed | Vinayaka Chaturthi (Ashwina) | Shukla · Ashwina | 13 Oct, 11:28 PM | 15 Oct, 1:14 AM |
| 13 Nov 2026 | Fri | Vinayaka Chaturthi (Kartika) | Shukla · Kartika | 12 Nov, 6:10 PM | 13 Nov, 8:43 PM |
| 13 Dec 2026 | Sun | Vinayaka Chaturthi (Margashirsha) | Shukla · Margashirsha | 12 Dec, 2:7 PM | 13 Dec, 4:48 PM |
All dates & times computed for New Delhi (IST) with the Swiss Ephemeris + Lahiri ayanamsa — not copied.
What is Vinayaka Chaturthi?
Vinayaka Chaturthi is the monthly worship of Ganesha on the fourth tithi of the waxing fortnight. Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, is honoured at midday — the muhurta associated with his birth — with durva grass, modak and the chanting of his names. Devotees keep the vrat for wisdom, success and the removal of obstacles from new undertakings.
Vinayaka vs Sankashti
Each lunar month carries two Chaturthis: the Shukla one (Vinayaka) and the Krishna one (Sankashti). The rhythm of the two — midday worship in the bright fortnight, moonrise worship in the dark — frames the month with Ganesha at both ends. The lists on this site compute both, so you can keep either or both vows.
The midday puja
The Vinayaka puja is performed during madhyahna kaal, roughly the middle of the day, held to be the hour of Ganesha's birth. The fast is typically broken after this puja — a simpler observance than Sankashti's wait for the moon.
Frequently asked questions
How many Vinayaka Chaturthi are in 2026?+
There are 12 Vinayaka Chaturthi in 2026 for the Delhi region — one each lunar month on the Shukla Chaturthi.
How is Vinayaka Chaturthi different from Sankashti?+
Both honour Ganesha, but Vinayaka falls on the waxing (Shukla) Chaturthi with a midday puja, while Sankashti falls on the waning (Krishna) Chaturthi and the fast is broken only after moonrise.
Which Vinayaka Chaturthi is the biggest?+
The Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi is the grand annual Ganesh Chaturthi — the ten-day festival ending with visarjan.
How is the vrat observed?+
Devotees fast till the madhyahna (midday) Ganesha puja, offer durva grass and modak, and chant Ganesha mantras. Practice varies by tradition.
Ask our AI astrologer — free — about the vrat, favourable timing and remedies, grounded in your own birth chart.