Anant Chaturdashi 2026 falls on Friday, 25 September 2026. This is the final day of the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival — the day of grand Ganesh Visarjan across India — AND a separate independent Vishnu Vrat where devotees tie the 14-knot Anant (Infinite) thread on the wrist in worship of Lord Vishnu's infinite form.

Quick Answer

Anant Chaturdashi 2026: Friday, 25 September 2026.

Chaturdashi tithi begins: Mon 14 Sep 2026, ~5:00 PM IST (approx).

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Chaturdashi tithi ends: Fri 25 Sep 2026, ~3:30 PM IST.

Anant Vrat puja + thread binding: Fri 25 Sep morning, before Chaturdashi ends.

Ganesh Visarjan: Fri 25 Sep — from morning through midnight (regional processions).

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Two festivals — same day

1. Ganesh Visarjan — the culmination of the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi utsav. Devotees carry Ganesh murtis to water bodies (rivers, sea, or eco-water-bodies at home for NRI families) singing "Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudchya Varshi Lavkar Ya!" (Lord Ganesha, come again soon next year!).

2. Anant Chaturdashi Vrat — an independent Vaishnava vrat honoring Lord Vishnu's infinite form (Anant Bhagavan). The 14-knot Anant thread (Anant Sutra) is tied around the wrist as a symbol of Vishnu's eternal protection.

The 14-Knot Anant Thread

The Anant Sutra is a sacred thread (traditionally cotton or silk) dyed yellow with kumkum and turmeric, with exactly 14 knots tied along its length. Each knot represents:

  • The 14 lokas (worlds) that Vishnu preserves as Ananta Shesha.
  • The 14 years of Rama's vanavas (forest exile) — vrat overlap with the Ramayana tradition.
  • The 14 forms of Vishnu venerated over the 14-year Anant Vrat cycle (in some traditions).

Men tie the thread on the right wrist; women on the left. Traditionally, the thread is worn for 14 days after the vrat (or in some traditions, for one year until the next Anant Chaturdashi).

Anant Vrat Puja Vidhi

  1. Wake before sunrise; bathe.
  2. Set up a small altar with an image of Lord Vishnu (or Ananta Shesha).
  3. Prepare the 14-knot Anant Sutra: yellow cotton thread, dip in kumkum + turmeric water, tie exactly 14 knots.
  4. Sthapana: place the sutra on a small kalash filled with Ganga jal.
  5. Recite the Anant Vrat Sankalpam.
  6. Offer flowers (white for Vishnu), akshat, sandalwood, tulsi leaves.
  7. Naivedyam: kheer, fruits, panchamrit, 14 puris (in traditional homes).
  8. Recite Vishnu Sahasranama (or its condensed 14 opening shlokas).
  9. Recite the Anant Vrat Katha (the story of Kaundinya and Sushila).
  10. Aarti; tie the Anant Sutra on the wrist.
  11. Serve prasad; distribute akshat.

The Anant Vrat Katha (brief)

The Bhavishya Purana narrates: Sushila, wife of the Brahmin Kaundinya, encountered women observing the Anant Vrat by a river. She learnt the vrat and began observing it. Prosperity came to Kaundinya's house. But Kaundinya, seeing the sutra on Sushila's wrist, arrogantly tore it and threw it into the fire — believing it superstition. From that moment, misfortune struck. Realising his error, Kaundinya undertook a 14-year pilgrimage to find Anant Bhagavan. In the end, Vishnu appeared before him and restored his fortune, teaching that the vrat is an act of pure faith, not superstition. The moral: never doubt or disrespect a sacred vrat.

Ganesh Visarjan on 25 September 2026

The 10-day Ganesh utsav that began Monday 14 September 2026 culminates today. Major visarjan events:

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  • Mumbai: Lalbaugcha Raja + Dagdusheth immersion at Girgaum Chowpatty, Juhu, Marine Drive.
  • Pune: Manache Ganpati processional visarjan.
  • Hyderabad: Khairatabad Ganesh nimajjanam at Hussain Sagar Tank Bund.
  • Vijayawada / Visakhapatnam: RK Beach and Krishna river nimajjanam.
  • Goa (Chavath): Family-scale visarjan in local rivers.

For NRI families: USA eco-visarjan rules — water body permits + eco-clay-idol options.

Local Timezones for NRI Families

  • India (IST): Anant Vrat puja before ~3:30 PM 25 Sep. Ganesh visarjan through evening.
  • UAE: Puja before ~2:00 PM Gulf time 25 Sep.
  • UK (BST): Puja before ~11:00 AM 25 Sep.
  • USA — Eastern: Consider local morning window 25 Sep.
  • USA — Pacific: Consider local morning window 25 Sep.
  • Australia — Sydney/Melbourne: Puja evening of Mon 25 Sep AEST (India's morning).

For NRI families the recommended approach is to observe the vrat on Friday 25 September (following India's date) and perform the puja at YOUR local morning window before local noon.

Who observes Anant Chaturdashi Vrat?

  • Primarily Vaishnava families (worshippers of Vishnu).
  • Traditionally observed for 14 consecutive years (annually), after which an Udyapan (formal conclusion ceremony) is performed.
  • Common in Gujarat, Maharashtra, MP, Rajasthan, UP, Bihar traditions.
  • Less commonly observed by Shaiva families (though Ganesh Visarjan is universal).

Related: Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 pillar • Ganesh Visarjan USA guide • Rishi Panchami 2026.