अनंत चतुर्दशी
Anant Chaturdashi
The final day of the Ganesh festival and a Vishnu vrat on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi, marked with the Anant thread and Ganesh visarjan.
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| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| Friday, September 25, 2026 | Anant Chaturdashi |
| Tuesday, September 14, 2027 | Anant Chaturdashi |
| Saturday, September 2, 2028 | Anant Chaturdashi |
About
Anant Chaturdashi falls on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi, the fourteenth day of the bright half of Bhadrapada. The date is the same in the Purnimanta and Amanta calendars. It has two parts. First, it is a vrat in honour of Lord Vishnu in his endless (ananta) form, in which a sacred thread with fourteen knots is tied on the wrist. Second, it is the day on which the ten-day Ganesh festival ends and the idols are immersed in a ceremony of farewell.
Both observances share the same day, but they are independent. Some families keep only the Anant Vrat, some keep only the Ganesh visarjan, and many keep both.
Significance and stories
The Anant Vrat story is told in the Puranas as a talk between Krishna and Yudhishthira. When the Pandavas were in exile, Krishna advised Yudhishthira to observe this vrat to regain his lost kingdom. Another tale describes Sushila and the sage Kaundinya. Sushila tied an Anant thread and prospered, but Kaundinya, thinking it unimportant, burned it and fell into misfortune. Realising his mistake, he searched for Lord Anant, and the vrat restored the family.
The name Ananta also refers to the serpent Shesha on whom Vishnu rests. The fourteen knots are traditionally linked with fourteen worlds (lokas). For many people the vrat is about steadfast faith and humility, not guaranteed outcomes.
Ganesh visarjan is the emotional farewell to the Lord, symbolising that all forms return to nature. Devotees chant "Ganapati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya", asking him to return soon.
How to observe (puja vidhi)
- Wake early, bathe and wear clean clothes. Clean the puja space.
- Take a sankalpa (intention) to observe the Anant Vrat.
- Place a picture of Lord Vishnu or Ananta on a kalasha. Prepare the Anant thread of cotton or silk, coloured with turmeric or kumkum, with fourteen knots.
- Offer flowers, tulsi leaves, sandalwood, incense and a lamp. Offer the thread, then tie it on the wrist (the right wrist for men, the left for women, per custom).
- Chant "ॐ अनन्ताय नमः" (om anantaya namah) or read the Anant Chaturdashi katha. Ask a priest or elder to guide pronunciation.
- Offer naivedya such as sweet puri, kheer or fruits.
- If your family keeps Ganesh, perform the final puja and aarti, and offer modak and coconut.
- Immerse the idol in a permitted way (see below) with the farewell prayer.
- Wear the Anant thread for fourteen days, then remove it respectfully and place it on a tree or in a plant pot.
Puja items (samagri)
- Picture of Vishnu, or Ananta, and a kalasha
- Anant thread with fourteen knots, turmeric and kumkum
- Tulsi leaves, flowers, sandalwood paste, rice
- Incense, ghee lamp, camphor
- Fruits, sweet puri, kheer, panchamrit
- For visarjan: durva, modak, coconut, flowers, a plate for aarti
Fasting and food
Many devotees fast until the puja is done and then eat a simple satvik meal. In some traditions, salt-free food is taken. A lighter fast is fine. People with health conditions, pregnant or nursing women, children and the elderly should follow their doctor's advice and may keep a lighter fast. Avoid onion, garlic and non-vegetarian food on the day.
Regional customs
In Maharashtra, large public processions of Ganesh idols take place in cities such as Mumbai and Pune. The fourteen-knot thread is tied in many parts of Maharashtra and North and Central India. In Rajasthan and Gujarat, Anant Chaudas is observed with Vishnu worship. In South India, Vishnu is worshipped in the Ananta Padmanabha form, and Kerala has a link with the Thiruvananthapuram Padmanabha temple. Customs vary; follow your family's custom.
Celebrating in the USA
Immersion in public lakes, rivers or the sea is regulated in the USA and is not permitted in many places. A good alternative is a symbolic visarjan at home: dissolve a clay idol in a tub or large bucket of water and pour the water onto garden soil or plants, or place the idol in a pot and plant a sapling. Many temples and community groups arrange a permitted community visarjan; check with them. If the day falls on a workday, you may do the puja early in the morning and the farewell in the evening. Cotton thread, turmeric and kumkum are easy to find at Indian stores. Keep lamps safe near smoke alarms.
Do
- Keep the thread clean and wear it with respect for the fourteen days.
- Check the muhurat for the puja and the visarjan in your Panchang.
- Perform aarti for Ganesha with the whole family before visarjan.
- Choose an eco-friendly way to immerse the idol.
- Share prasad with neighbours.
- Teach children the stories of Anant and Ganesha.
- Give some charity as an act of thanks.
Don't
- Do not rush the visarjan or treat it carelessly.
- Do not burn or discard the Anant thread in a disrespectful way.
- Do not use plastic, thermocol or non-biodegradable materials in the farewell.
- Do not throw puja items into public waters.
- Do not take intoxicants or loud music to the farewell.
- Do not take the vrat as a guarantee of any specific outcome.
Related
Customs differ between families, regions and traditions. This page describes common practice; follow your family’s tradition and your priest’s guidance.