Anant Chaturdashi 2026: correct date and auspicious time for Bappa's immersion

Anant Chaturdashi is considered a very sacred and important festival in Hinduism. The day is dedicated to Lord Vishnu's Anant form, and it is on this date that the beloved Ganpati Bappa is given an emotional farewell. According to mythological belief, worshipping Lord Vishnu on this day and tying the Anant Sutra on the wrist removes all troubles in life and brings happiness and prosperity. This year Anant Chaturdashi will be celebrated on September 25, a day on which several auspicious yogas, including Ravi Yoga, are also forming.

According to the Panchang, the Chaturdashi tithi of Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha will begin at 11:17 pm on September 24, 2026. This tithi will end at 11:08 pm on September 25, 2026. As per the Udayatithi rule of the scriptures, observing Anant Chaturdashi on September 25, that is, Friday, will be considered scripturally correct and auspicious.

There will be three main auspicious muhurats for immersing Bappa's idol on September 25. The morning Labh Choghadiya will be from 7:41 am to 9:11 am. After this, the morning Amrit Choghadiya will be from 9:11 am to 10:42 am. The third muhurat is the afternoon Shubh Choghadiya, from 12:12 pm to 1:43 pm.

The main auspicious muhurat for worshipping Lord Anant will be from 6:28 am to 11:06 pm on September 25. During this time, Lord Vishnu can be worshipped and the Anant Sutra tied.

As for the method of worship, one should wake up early on this day, bathe and wear clean clothes. The place of worship should be cleaned and an idol or photo of Lord Vishnu placed there, and yellow flowers, fruits, panchamrit, incense and a lamp should be offered. During the puja, the Anant Sutra, a silk thread with 14 knots, should be offered at the feet of Lord Vishnu. After this, the Anant Vrat Katha should be read, the aarti of Lord Vishnu performed, and finally the same Anant Sutra tied, men on the wrist of the right hand and women on the wrist of the left hand.

As for its religious significance, the 14 knots in the Anant Sutra are believed to symbolise the 14 lokas. It is believed that performing this puja brings akshaya, that is, everlasting, merit. In the Mahabharata, the Pandavas too observed the Anant Chaturdashi fast during their exile to be freed of all their troubles. It is for this reason that observing this fast is believed to remove all troubles in life and bring peace and happiness.