Varada Chaturthi 2026 observed on May 20 with special puja and auspicious timings

Varada Chaturthi, the fourth lunar day of the sacred Adhik Maas, fell on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. The day is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, and is considered especially propitious because it occurs in the extra month that appears roughly every three years.

Devotees across India observed a fast and performed Ganesha worship with traditional mantras such as “Om Gām Ganapataye Namah” and offerings of modak, red flowers and sindoor. The prescribed puja sequence includes a morning bath, setting up the deity in the north‑east corner, lighting lamps, reciting the Ganesha Atharvashirsha and Ganesha Chalisa, and concluding with the standard aarti.

Astrological timing for the day listed several auspicious periods: Brahma Muhurat from 04:05 to 04:46 AM, Ravi Yoga from 05:28 to 06:11 AM, Victory Muhurat from 02:34 to 03:29 PM, and Ghodul Muhurat from 07:06 to 07:27 PM. Inauspicious periods such as Rahu Kaal and Yamagand were also noted. The observance is reported from New Delhi and reflects widespread Hindu practice during this cycle.