Travel Guides & Articles
Exploring The Festival Beyond Maharashtra
Massive Ganesh idols tower over streets, drumbeats echo in lockstep with the tread of devotees through neighbourhoods, and emotional processions light up Ganesh Chaturthi — an annual festival celebrated across India in late August or September. The 10-day celebration (sometimes 11) honours the deity of wisdom and prosperity, making it one of the most prominent events of the year. Families install clay idols at home, while public mandals build elaborate pandals that draw millions of visitors, turning the religious festival into a cornerstone of cultural tourism.
Mumbai may be the heart of it all, with the most elaborate observances on the day, but Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated just as vibrantly in cities across India. And we’ve rounded up the ones worth experiencing.
Also, read about the many hues and tones of Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai.
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations outside Maharashtra
Dharwad district, Karnataka
Chabbi Ganeshotsava is celebrated in Chabbi near Hubballi in North Karnataka. Lakhs of devotees from all over Karnataka and neighbouring states visit here to seek blessings from this Red coloured wish fulfilling Ganesha.#ChabbiGaneshotasava@AAI_Official @AAIRHQSR @aairedsr pic.twitter.com/MUBD0bpyW8
— ಹುಬ್ಬಳ್ಳಿ ವಿಮಾನನಿಲ್ದಾಣ: Hubballi Airport (@aaihbxairport) September 9, 2024
Chabbi Ganeshotsava (name of the specific celebration in Chabbi village in Karnataka) traces its roots to 1827, when Shri Guru Krishnendra Swamiji asked the Kulkarni family to worship a red-coloured Ganapati for prosperity. Today, many households in Chabbi install striking red idols on Chaturthi, drawing pilgrims who come to seek blessings. Just 20 kilometres away in Hubballi, the more than a week-long festival culminates in massive immersion processions.
Thousands throng the streets to witness towering 25-foot idols like ‘Hubballi Ka Raja’, accompanied by high-decibel music, drum troupes, and dancing crowds. If you’re looking to slip away from the city’s choreographed festivities and soak up something more authentic, the Dharwad district is the place to be.
Kota, Rajasthan
In Kota, Ganesh Chaturthi is anchored by two temples that see the heaviest footfall during the festival. The Khade Ganesh Ji Temple, with its rare standing idol, becomes the centre of daily processions and evening aartis that spill into the surrounding streets. At the Manokamna Mandir, located on Bundi Road, Ganeshpal, devotees line up with offerings and petitions, many believing their vows are fulfilled if made during the 10-day observance.
Another piece of local folklore tied to Manokamna Mandir is that devotees convey their wishes to the Lord through an application, and it is believed that if they visit the temple for five consecutive Wednesdays, those wishes get fulfilled.
Also, learn why you should plan a trip to Kota during Dussehra for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Surat and Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Surat hosts one of the state’s largest Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at the famed Sarkar Ganesh Utsav pandal. The festival draws devotees from across Gujarat, with nightly maha aartis and a grand visarjan procession that sees thousands of participants lining the streets.
Turn around to Ahmedabad, and the way you soak in the day takes a different turn with dozens of pandals spread across the city, making pandal-hopping a major draw for locals and visitors alike. For 2025, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has also turned its focus to sustainability by producing around 4,000 eco-friendly idols crafted from cow dung collected from stray cattle, alongside clay idols to champion the “RRR” (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) model of environmental protection, while also providing employment opportunities for local sculptors.
Chennai and Pillayarpatti, Tamil Nadu
Large public celebrations in Chennai during Ganesh Chaturthi (commonly termed ‘Vinayaka Chaturthi’ in Tamil Nadu) deserve their very own space in your itinerary if you are ever planning a trip here. Community pandals showcase themed installations, often carrying messages on environmental awareness or social issues. Cultural groups and associations, including the South Indian Artistes Association, also host annadhanam to distribute food among devotees.
Another recommended ‘place-to-visit’ is the ancient Karpaga Vinayagar Temple in Pillayarpatti, Sivaganga district, where thousands of pilgrims gather each year to witness the Theerthavari ceremony in the temple tank. Stay on the lookout for the giant kozhukattai sweets, which form a key part of the devotional observances.
New Delhi: The Capital’s way of celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi in Delhi may not rival Mumbai’s pandal mania, but the capital still knows how to put on a show. The Sri Subha Siddhi Vinayaka Mandir Society in Mayur Vihar is known for its towering idol and South Indian food stalls. Netaji Subhash Place hosts Delhi’s ‘Lal Bagh Ka Raja’, famed for themed decorations and a grand visarjan. Connaught Place is home to both New Maharashtra Sadan, with its cultural programmes, and the historic Ganesh Mandir. In West Delhi, ‘Delhi Ka Raja’ at Ramesh Nagar draws huge crowds, while Laxmi Nagar’s Ganesh Sewa Mandal can be a go-to pick if you want to explore theme-based installations that speak to the soul of the festival.
Kolkata: Ganesh Chaturthi celebration with a Bengali connect
Kolkata may be better known for Durga Puja, but Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations here have steadily grown into a beloved observance in the city. And many would even argue it is equally as festive and grand. Kolkatans waddle through last-minute preparations, carrying idols from Kumartuli and performing pre-puja rituals at home. Neighbourhood pandals are readied for evening prayers, and families embraced the festival with devotion while adding a Bengali flair to the Maharashtrian-style celebrations.
And as Bengalis love big, unexpected, and artistically inventive celebrations, in 2024, a Bhawanipore sweet shop made headlines by creating a record-breaking 500 kg ladoo for the festival. The orange and yellow confection, lavishly garnished with cashews, figs, and full-sized kaju katli, went viral on X via ANI news, offering another compelling reason to plan a trip here.
(Feature image credit: Saloni Panchal/Pexels)
Related | The Must-Visit Tourist Places In India For That Dream Vacation
Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Followed by Gowri Habba or Gwari Vratham celebration, Karnataka celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi with gold and gusto. Expect massive fares, parades, visarjan processions, and more taking over major cities like Bangalore, Mysore, and Mangalore.
That’ll be the Khairatabad Ganesh idol, whose size and design single-handedly attract thousands of visitors, and is installed in the Khairatabad locality.
Known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, South Indian states go all out with regional rituals and delicacies to celebrate the occasion.
Yes, you can spot celebrations organised by Indian communities in many major cities like New York, London, and Sydney.
Yes, in the last decade, many states are actively prioritising eco-friendly idols and recycled pandals to minimise on waste and carbon footprint.
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Travel Guides & Articles
India eyes bigger slice of Philippines’ $2.5 billion rice market with export push
The Philippines has emerged as a critical market for India’s agricultural exports. In 2024, Manila imported farm goods worth nearly $20 billion, including semi-milled rice, wheat and meslin, oilcake, food preparations and palm oil. India’s shipments to the country stood at $413 million, making up just 2% of the Philippines’ total agricultural imports.
Key Indian exports to the Philippines included beef, groundnut, rice and tobacco. Despite being the world’s largest exporter of rice, with overseas sales worth $11.83 billion in 2024-25, India’s rice exports to the Philippines were valued at only $48.91 million during the same period.
“Philippines is the largest importer of rice in the world, with imports in 2024 valued at $2.52 billion. However, there is significant opportunity to expand India’s rice exports in the Philippines as, despite India being the world’s largest rice exporter, India’s rice exports were only $48.91 million to the Philippines in the same period,” the official noted, calling it an untapped opportunity.
To bridge this gap, the commerce ministry is facilitating a delegation of rice exporters, along with those dealing in other potential products such as onions, potatoes, groundnut and meat, to travel to the Philippines in early September. The initiative is expected to strengthen trade linkages and help Indian exporters establish a stronger foothold in the region.
The engagement is set to continue later in the year, with a team of Philippine food importers due to participate in World Food India, scheduled for September 25-28 . They will take part in the International Rice Conference on October 30-31, 2025, billed as the first large-scale trade fair of its kind for the rice sector.
India is also witnessing a surge in agricultural exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Exports to the bloc rose from $480 million in 2023-24 to $628 million in 2024-25, driven largely by stronger trade ties with Russia.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority has played an active role in the growth of India agriculture exports by showcasing Indian produce at international trade events such as World Food Moscow. According to officials, such platforms have been vital in boosting visibility, forging new business partnerships and consolidating India’s presence in the CIS market.
Travel Guides & Articles
KSRTC adds 90 extra buses for Onam festivities between Bengaluru, Kerala: Report | Bengaluru
Published on: Aug 31, 2025 02:47 pm IST
The KSRTC will deploy 90 additional buses from September 2 to 4 to accommodate Onam travellers between Bengaluru and Kerala.
What’s the story
Chennai‘s Manali area witnessed a cloudburst on Saturday night, leading to heavy rainfall.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded 10.6cm of rain from 10:00pm to 11:00pm and another 12.6cm from 11:00pm to midnight on August 30, 2025.
Wimco Nagar received the highest rainfall of 15.7cm during the hour from 11:00pm to midnight on August 30, followed by Korattur with 13.7cm and New Manali Town with 10.3cm during the same period.
Manali receives 27cm of rain
The IMD recorded over 100mm of rainfall in several parts of Chennai.
Manali received 27cm of rain while New Manali Town and Wimco Nagar received 26cm and 23cm, respectively, during a 24-hour period ending at 8:30am on Sunday.
Other areas such as Kathivakkam (13.6cm), Tiruvottiyur (12.6cm), and Ayapakkam (12.1cm) also witnessed heavy rainfall during this period.
Heavy rainfall affects air travel
The heavy rainfall in Chennai also affected air travel. Three flights from Frankfurt, Mangaluru, and New Delhi were diverted to Bengaluru as they couldn’t land at the city airport due to the weather conditions.
However, once the weather cleared up in Chennai, passengers were flown back from Bengaluru by different flights.
Weather forecast for Tamil Nadu
The Regional Meteorological Centre has forecasted light to moderate rain in isolated places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal in the next 24 hours.
Strong winds with speeds of 40-50km/h are also likely over these areas.
This weather update comes after a similar pattern was observed on August 23 when several districts, including Chennai, received moderate to heavy overnight rains.
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