Ganesh Chaturthi at home: Date, time (muhurat), sthapana, visarjan and key details of Ganesh puja for Indian communities in the US

Ganesh Puja, or Ganesh Chaturthi, isn’t just another festival, it’s one of those celebrations that instantly lights up every Indian home, no matter where you are in the world. The moment Lord Ganesha arrives, the whole vibe changes, more joy, more devotion, and definitely more modaks! For families living in the US, bringing Bappa home has become a heartfelt way to stay close to Indian traditions while mixing it beautifully with their life abroad.

It’s like having a little piece of India right in the living room.So, if you’re planning to welcome Bappa into your home this year, let’s walk you through the date, time, and rituals.

Date of Ganesh Puja in the US

In 2025, Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 27th.

While the festival is huge in India with pandals, processions, and cultural events, families in the US usually observe it more personally, at home with close friends, community gatherings, or local temples.

What matters most is the devotion, not the scale.

Auspicious Ganesh puja time (muhurat) in the US

Now, the big question everyone asks: When should I start the puja?According to Hindu tradition, Ganesh Puja is ideally performed during Madhyahna Muhurat (the midday time when Lord Ganesha is believed to be most powerful). In the US, depending on where you live, East Coast, West Coast, or Central states, the timings will slightly differ.Eastern Time (New York, Toronto, Washington DC): Chaturthi Tithi Begins - 04:24 AM on Aug 26, 2025Chaturthi Tithi Ends - 06:14 AM on Aug 27, 2025

Central Time (Chicago, Dallas, Houston)Chaturthi Tithi Begins - 03:24 AM on Aug 26, 2025Chaturthi Tithi Ends - 05:14 AM on Aug 27, 2025Pacific Time (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle)Chaturthi Tithi Begins - 01:24 AM on Aug 26, 2025Chaturthi Tithi Ends - 03:14 AM on Aug 27, 2025

Ganesh puja 2025 sthapana

According to Drik Panchang: Ganesh Puja is preferred during Madhyahna as it is believed that Lord Ganesh was born during Madhyahna Kala.

Madhyahna Kala is equivalent to midday according to Hindu division of the day. As per Hindu time-keeping, the time duration between sunrise to sunset is divided into five equal parts. These five parts are known as Pratahkala, Sangava, Madhyahna, Aparahna and Sayankal. Ganapati Sthapana and Ganapati Puja on Ganesha Chaturthi are done during Madhyahna part of the day and as per Vedic astrology it is considered the most appropriate time for Ganesha Puja.

Celebrating Ganesh Puja at home in the US

Ganesh Puja at home is usually a simple, warm affair. Here’s how families make it special abroad:

Bringing home the idol

Many US cities now have stores and Indian temples where you can buy eco-friendly Ganesh idols. In places like New Jersey, Toronto, artisans even create clay idols. If you can’t find one locally, there are options online too, some families even use reusable idols each year.

Setting up the altar

Decorate a clean spot in your living room with flowers, banana leaves, and a red cloth.

Add diyas, incense, and sweets (yes, especially modaks, Ganesha’s favorite).

Puja vidhi (rituals)

Invoke Lord Ganesha with mantras or a simple prayer.Offer 21 Durva grass blades and 21 modaks if possible.Chant the Ganesh Atharvashirsha or even just “Om Gan Ganapataye Namah” with devotion.Aarti with family and friends completes the ritual beautifully.

Prasad and sharing

Food is central to any Indian festival. Families prepare traditional sweets like modak, ladoo, and kheer, but don’t worry if you can’t manage everything.

Even offering fruits or a single sweet with love is enough. Many in the US also prepare fusion versions, think chocolate modaks or baked ladoos.

Ganesh puja 2025 visarjan

As per reports, the visarjan or the farewell of Bappa will be done on September 6.

Ganesh puja 2025 in US Communities

While home celebrations are cozy, larger Indian communities in cities like New Jersey, Houston, San Francisco, Toronto often organize community Ganesh Puja in temples and halls. Some even recreate mini-pandals, complete with cultural programs, dances, and bhajans.But with busy schedules, school runs, and long commutes, many families prefer celebrating at home. It’s intimate, personal, and allows children to actively take part in the rituals. For second-generation Indian kids growing up abroad, Ganesh Puja becomes a fun way to learn about traditions while enjoying festive treats.One trend catching on in the US is eco-friendly Ganesh Puja. Instead of Plaster of Paris idols, families are opting for clay or plant-based idols that dissolve naturally in water.

Some even immerse the idol in a home bucket and then pour the water into garden soil, a mindful way of honoring tradition while protecting nature.Ganesh Puja at home in the US is not just about rituals, it’s about family bonding, keeping culture alive, and feeling the presence of Lord Ganesha even thousands of miles away from India. Whether you follow every detail of the Panchang or simply light a diya and offer a modak, what matters is devotion.This Ganesh Chaturthi, set aside some time, gather your loved ones, and welcome Vighnaharta (the remover of obstacles) into your home. As the saying goes, “Where there is Ganesha, there is success, wisdom, and prosperity.”