Overview
- Major cities report moonrise around the evening, including New Delhi at 8:54 pm, Mumbai at 9:23 pm, Bengaluru at 9:10 pm, Chennai at 8:59 pm, Hyderabad at 9:02 pm, Kolkata at 8:15 pm, Jaipur at 9:00 pm (approx), Ahmedabad at 9:15 pm (approx) and Chandigarh at 8:54 pm.
- Devotees fast from sunrise and break the vrat only after sighting the moon, offering water to the moon before partaking of food.
- Puja guidance emphasizes an evening ritual with a clean setup, an idol or image of Ganesha, durva grass, ghee lamps and incense, offerings such as modaks and ladoos, mantras and aarti after moonrise.
- If clouds or fog obscure the moon, observers are advised to pray facing its direction, with the intention behind the fast considered paramount.
- The day honors Lord Ganesha—worshipped in forms such as Bhalachandra and Dwijpriya—as the remover of obstacles, with monthly vrat traditions and associated katha recitations.