Why does Shri Ganesh chaturthi always come in Shukla Paksha?

Because Ganesh Chaturthi is defined by _tithi_, not by English date.

*The date is fixed as: Bhadrapada month, Shukla Paksha, Chaturthi Tithi.*

So it will _always_ be in Shukla Paksha by definition. Like your birthday will always be on your birth date.

*Why that specific day?*

1. *Shukla Paksha = Waxing moon (growing moon).* In Hindu Shastra, Shukla Paksha is considered auspicious, pure, and for new beginnings. Krishna Paksha is for pitra karya / ending things. Ganesha is Vighnaharta, god of beginnings, so his birth is celebrated in Shukla Paksha.

2. *Why Chaturthi?* 

- Chaturthi tithi is ruled by Lord Ganesha himself. The lord of Chaturthi is Ganapati.

- Purana says Ganesha was born on Shukla Chaturthi in Bhadrapada month in the afternoon (Madhyahna). The moon was in Swati / Hasta nakshatra.

- Hence every month we have _Vinayaka Chaturthi_ in Shukla Paksha and _Sankashti Chaturthi_ in Krishna Paksha. Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi is the biggest one - his birthday.

3. *Why not Krishna Paksha?*

Krishna Paksha Chaturthi is when we do fasting for _removing_ obstacles (Sankashti), because moon is decreasing - symbolizing decreasing problems. Shukla Chaturthi is for _inviting_ auspiciousness - symbolizing increasing blessings.

So just like Diwali always comes on Amavasya and Holi always on Purnima, Ganesh Chaturthi will always be on Shukla Paksha Chaturthi because that is the date.

In 2026, *Ganesh Chaturthi is on Monday, September 14, 2026.*

*Timings for 2026:*

Chaturthi Tithi Begins: 7:06 AM on Sep 14

Chaturthi Tithi Ends:     7:44 AM on Sep 15

- *Sthapana / Madhyahna Puja Muhurat:* 11:02 AM to 1:31 PM on Sep 14 (Timings vary slightly by city - for Bangalore it's 11:02 AM to 1:28 PM)

- *Main Visarjan / Anant Chaturdashi:* Friday, September 25, 2026 

Note: Don't look at the moon on Sep 14 between 9:01 AM to 8:09 PM - it's considered inauspicious on this day (Mithya Dosha).