Ganesha Festival 2026 | Hindu Temple of Central Illinois

Clay Ganeshas

Our Ganeshas come from clay and returns to clay

Ganesha is welcomed home as a guest, worshipped for the days of the festival, and then returned to the water — the murthi dissolves and the elements go back where they came from. Clay is what makes that possible.

Only temple-sourced clay Ganeshas are accepted for temple poojas and visarjan. Store-bought murthis are unlikely to dissolve on immersion and are therefore not good for the water or the land.

Sponsors can sponsor a clay Ganesha or request one for their own home worship. A five-foot Ganesha made of paper mesh takes center stage during the festival.

The six days

Monday, September 14

Ganesh Chathurthi

Ganesha Moola Vigraha Abhisheka and Vinayaka Sthapana, followed by Samoohika Ganesha Pooja, Maha Mangalarati and prasadam.

Tuesday, September 15

Festival day two

Daily abhisheka, darshan, sankalpas and archanas in your family's name.

Wednesday, September 16

Festival day three

Daily abhisheka, darshan, sankalpas and archanas.

Thursday, September 17

Festival day four

Daily abhisheka, darshan, sankalpas and archanas.

Friday, September 18

Festival day five

Daily abhisheka, darshan, sankalpas and archanas.

Saturday, September 19

Final day & Visarjan

Darshan, sankalpas, archanas and the immersion of the clay Ganeshas.

Daily abhisheka and pooja timings are confirmed by the temple office in the days before the festival. Call (309) 671-5668 for the day you plan to come.

Words you will hear

Vinayaka / Ganesha: The remover of obstacles and lord of beginnings, invoked first before any undertaking.
Chaturthi: The fourth day of the lunar fortnight. Ganesh Chathurthi marks Ganesha's appearance and opens the festival.
Sthapana: The installation of the murthi, inviting the deity to be present for the festival.
Samoohika Pooja: A group worship performed together by all the families gathered, not one at a time.
Naivedya: Food offered to the deity before anyone eats. Ganesha's Naivedya Laddu is shared back as prasadam.
Modhaka: The sweet dumpling that is Ganesha's most beloved offering.
Visarjan: The farewell — the clay murthi is immersed in water and dissolves back to earth.
Abhisheka: Ceremonial bathing of the deity with water, milk, honey, sandal and other substances.

Coming for the first time

Everyone is welcome

You do not need to be Hindu or know the prayers. Come as you are, sit, watch and follow along.

Shoes off, modest dress

Footwear stays at the entrance. Simple clothing covering shoulders and knees is ideal.

Take-out prasadam

Boxed Prasadam prepared by devotees is provided on Monday, September 14 and includes Ganesha Laddu.

Rathothsava lunch

On Saturday, September 19, the day of Rathothsava, Maharashtrian devotees are preparing a special Ganesha Chathurthi lunch for eat in and carry out.

Bring the children

Ganesha's festival is the friendliest introduction there is. Children are expected.

Sponsorships

Sponsor the Ganesha Festival

Choose a level or your own amount and you go straight to secure checkout with Square. A receipt is emailed to you. HTCI is a 501(c)(3), so your gift is tax deductible.

A sponsorship is a seva — offered in your family's name, with a sankalpam spoken by the priest.
Festival costs are real: clay murthis, priests, flowers, decoration, abhisheka materials and daily prasadam.
Sponsors keep attendance free, so no family stays away because of cost.

Samoohika Vinayaka Pooja seat

$51

Participation in the group Vinayaka Pooja, including one Naivedya Laddu.

Ganesha Pooja Sponsorship

$151

Sponsor the Ganesha pooja, with sankalpam in your family's name.

Patron Sponsor

$251

Includes Patron Membership for the year.

Bronze Sponsor

$501

Recognition on the temple donor plaque.

Silver Sponsor

$1,001

Sankalpam in your family's name across the festival.

Gold Sponsor

$2,501

Lead sponsorship of the Ganesha Festival — poojas, decoration and prasadam.

Any other amount

Give whatever is comfortable for your family.

$

See the full 2026 temple calendar