Ganesh Chaturthi: How to Worship, What to Offer, and Moon-Sighting Dos and Don’ts

In Sanatan Dharma, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated yearly on the Chaturthi date of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month. This is a special day to worship Lord Ganesha and seek his blessings. According to Pandit Saurabh Kumar Mishra, this year on 07 September 2024, Chitra Nakshatra and Brahma Yoga are being formed on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi. Ganesh Chaturthi Tithi will start on 06 September 2024 at 12:17 pm and end at 01:34 pm the next day. Therefore, according to Udayatithi, Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on 07 September. The auspicious time for puja is from 11:03 am to 1:34 pm on 7th September. Let’s know the simple worship method to please Ganpati Bappa from the book “Ganesh Chaturthi” by Vaibhav Jagtap.

Worship method of Ganesh Chaturthi:

On the day of Ganesh Chaturthi, the fasting person should wake up in the morning and take a bath by putting white sesame seeds in water.

• On the day of Ganesh Chaturthi, Lord Ganesha was born in Madhyah i.e. afternoon, hence worshiping Lord Ganesha in the afternoon on this day has special significance.
• Install a silver, gold, or clay idol for worship as per your capacity.
• Now start the puja at the auspicious time of puja. Hold a noose and a rein in your hand.
• Meditate on Siddhvinayak Ganpati Bappa. Worship with concentration.
• Bathe Lord Ganesha with Panchamrit. After this, take a bath with pure water.
• After invoking, offer two red clothes to Lord Ganesha.
• After this, offer perfume, fruits, betel leaves, flowers, incense sticks, and naivedya to Lord Ganesha with reverence.
• Then offer 21 Doob to Lord Ganesha. After this, take two doobs along with Akshat and offer them different names while reciting each of their names.
• Now offer jaggery and coriander to Lord Ganesha. After this, offer 21 laddus made from pure ghee.
• After the puja, donate 10 laddus to the Brahmin and keep 10 laddus as Prasad and keep the remaining laddus as naivedya in front of Lord Ganesha.
• If possible, feed food to a Brahmin on this day.
• Peanuts, vegetables, etc. should not be consumed on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi.

Why should one not do moon sighting on Ganesh Chaturthi?

It is believed that Ganesh Chaturthi was worshiped in Shivlok on Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha. Bathing, charity fasting, and worship activities on this day are considered very auspicious and fruitful. Moon sighting is considered prohibited on this special day. It is said that seeing the moon on the Chaturthi Tithi of Shukla Paksha during the Sankranti of Leo leads to false stigma (theft, adultery, murder, etc.). Therefore, the darshan of Chandra Dev is prohibited on this day.