Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations: Ganesh Chaturthi is one of India’s most beloved Hindu festivals, celebrated with prayers, colourful decorations, devotional songs and the installation of Lord Ganesha idols
in homes and community pandals.
This year, the 10-day Ganesh festival will begin on Monday, September 14, and end with Anant Chaturdashi, on Friday, September 25. The festival offers families an opportunity to introduce children to the stories, traditions and cultural values associated with Lord Ganesha through fun and meaningful activities.
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From colouring sheets and simple crafts to storytelling, flower decorations and festive games, children can take part in celebrations while learning about creativity, kindness, wisdom and the importance of caring for the environment.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Fun Activities For Children
Ganesh Chaturthi can be a wonderful time to get children involved in the family’s festive preparations.
Instead of limiting their participation to watching the puja or accompanying adults to a pandal, parents can introduce age-appropriate activities that combine creativity with stories and traditions.
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The best activities do not need expensive materials. Paper, crayons, coloured pencils, old cardboard, clay, flowers and materials already available at home can be turned into festive crafts.
Here are some easy Ganesh Chaturthi activities that children can enjoy in 2026.
Ganesh Chaturthi colouring activity
Colouring is one of the easiest festive activities for younger children.
Parents can print or draw a simple outline of Lord Ganesha and let children colour it using crayons, colour pencils or washable paints.
Instead of prescribing a particular colour scheme, encourage children to choose their own colours and explain what they like about their design.
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Older children can make the activity more creative by designing a complete festive scene featuring:
- Lord Ganesha
- Flowers and diyas
- Modaks
- A Ganesh Chaturthi pandal
- Trees and plants
- Family members celebrating the festival
Parents can also turn the finished artwork into handmade decorations for the home.
Make a paper Ganesha
A simple paper Ganesha is an easy craft project for children.
Use coloured paper, cardboard, glue and child-safe scissors to create a basic Ganesha figure. Younger children can work with pre-cut shapes, while older children can draw and cut their own designs.
The activity can also become an opportunity to talk about the different features traditionally associated with Lord Ganesha, such as his elephant head, large ears and trunk.
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Parents can ask children to identify each feature and explain what they know about Ganesha.
Make a clay Ganesha
Children who enjoy working with their hands can make a small Ganesha figure using natural clay or child-safe modelling clay.
This activity allows children to experiment with shapes and textures while creating their own interpretation of Lord Ganesha.
If natural clay is used, parents can also connect the activity to the idea of an eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi and explain why choosing environmentally responsible materials matters.
For very young children, an adult should supervise the activity and handle any materials that may pose a choking or safety risk.
Tell the story of Lord Ganesha
Storytelling can help children understand the cultural significance of Ganesh Chaturthi in a way that is more engaging than simply memorising facts.
Parents can tell age-appropriate versions of traditional stories associated with Lord Ganesha, including stories about his birth, his parents Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, and his association with wisdom and the removal of obstacles.
The story can be made interactive by asking children questions as they listen.
For example:
- Who is Lord Ganesha’s mother?
- Who is Lord Ganesha’s father?
- What animal is associated with Lord Ganesha?
- What is Lord Ganesha’s favourite sweet traditionally believed to be?
- Why do people pray to Lord Ganesha before beginning something new?
The aim is to encourage curiosity rather than turn the activity into a test.
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Read a Ganesh Chaturthi storybook
A festive reading session can be especially useful for children who enjoy books.
Parents can choose an age-appropriate illustrated book about Lord Ganesha, Indian mythology or the traditions surrounding Ganesh Chaturthi.
Younger children can look at pictures and identify characters, objects and animals. Older children can read short passages aloud and discuss the lesson of the story.
A family reading session can also become part of the daily Ganesh Chaturthi routine.
Make a modak craft
Modak is closely associated with Lord Ganesha and can inspire a simple craft activity.
Children can make paper or clay versions of modaks rather than handling food if parents want a no-cook craft.
For a paper activity, cut out or fold paper into simple modak shapes and decorate them with crayons, glitter or coloured paper.
Older children can create a “modak basket” from cardboard and fill it with their handmade creations.
If real food is involved, adults should supervise cooking and keep hot utensils away from younger children.
Create a Ganesh Chaturthi greeting card
Children can make handmade Ganesh Chaturthi cards for grandparents, relatives, teachers and friends.
They can draw Lord Ganesha on the front and write a simple festive greeting inside.
This activity encourages children to practise writing while giving them a chance to create something personal for someone else.
Cards can be made using recycled paper or leftover craft material from previous projects.
Decorate the puja area with flowers
Flower decoration is another easy way to involve children in preparations.
Give children a small basket of flowers and ask them to help arrange them around the puja area under adult supervision.
They can create simple patterns with flower petals or make a small floral design.
Parents can explain that flowers are traditionally used in puja and that careful handling and respectful participation are part of the celebration.
Children should not be left alone around diyas, incense sticks or other sources of heat.
Make a Ganesh Chaturthi eco-craft
Use the festival to introduce children to sustainable celebrations.
Children can create decorations from:
- Old newspapers
- Cardboard
- Paper bags
- Jute
- Cotton
- Fallen leaves
- Reusable fabric
- Leftover wrapping paper
They can make paper garlands, hanging decorations, small flags or wall art.
This activity can teach children that festive decorations do not always need to be purchased and that materials can often be reused creatively.
Organise a Ganesh-themed quiz
A simple quiz can turn learning into a family game.
Questions can be adapted to different age groups.
For younger children, ask questions about colours, objects and characters they see during the festival.
Older children can answer questions about Ganesh Chaturthi traditions, stories, cultural practices and the significance of Lord Ganesha.
Keep the questions light and allow children to work in teams so that the activity remains fun rather than competitive.
Play “find the modak”
Parents can hide paper or clay modaks around a safe area of the home and give children simple clues to find them.
For example, a clue could say:
“Look where we keep our storybooks.”
The next clue can lead children to another location.
At the end, children can find a small festive surprise or a basket containing their handmade modaks.
This activity can be particularly entertaining for younger children.
Make a Ganesha puzzle
Parents can draw a simple Ganesha picture on cardboard, colour it and cut it into large puzzle pieces.
Children can then put the pieces together.
For older children, make the puzzle more challenging by using smaller pieces.
Families can also turn one of the child’s completed colouring sheets into a puzzle by mounting it on cardboard before cutting it.
Host a family storytelling circle
Set aside 15–20 minutes for everyone in the family to share a Ganesha-related story.
Grandparents can narrate stories they heard as children, while parents can explain family traditions associated with Ganesh Chaturthi.
Children can then tell the group what they learned or create their own short story featuring Ganesha.
This can make the celebration more intergenerational and give children an opportunity to learn from older family members.
Let children make a festive playlist
Older children can participate by helping create a family-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi playlist.
They can select devotional songs and traditional music with parents and grandparents.
Parents can also explain the meaning of selected songs or introduce children to different musical traditions associated with Ganesh celebrations.
The playlist can be played during craft time or family gatherings.
Create a Ganesh Chaturthi memory book
Give children a notebook or a few sheets of paper and ask them to document the festival.
They can draw:
- Their Lord Ganesha idol
- The puja decorations
- Their favourite activity
- A modak
- A family celebration
- A pandal they visited
- An eco-friendly decoration
Older children can write a few sentences beside each drawing.
By the end of the festival, they will have their own handmade Ganesh Chaturthi memory book.
Teach children about responsible visarjan
Ganesh Chaturthi is also an opportunity to teach children about caring for nature.
Explain, in simple language, why families may choose natural clay idols, avoid unnecessary plastic decorations and follow responsible immersion practices.
If the family is participating in visarjan, children can learn about the importance of using designated immersion arrangements and following local authority instructions.
The lesson should be positive: celebrating a festival and caring for nature can go together.
Organise a no-screen Ganesh Chaturthi hour
Families can set aside one hour during the festival when everyone puts away phones, tablets and television.
Use the time for colouring, storytelling, crafts, board games or family conversations.
A no-screen activity can be especially useful for bringing children and adults together during what can otherwise become a busy festival schedule.
Make a simple Ganesh Chaturthi activity box
Parents can prepare a small activity box before September 14.
It can contain:
- Crayons
- Colour pencils
- Sketch pens
- Coloured paper
- Child-safe scissors
- Glue
- Natural clay
- Cardboard
- Reusable decorations
- Storybooks
Having everything in one place makes it easier for children to start an activity without needing extensive preparation.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Keep activities age-appropriate
Not every activity is suitable for every child.
Younger children should be supervised while using scissors, glue, modelling materials and small craft components. Diyas, incense, candles, hot food and cooking equipment should always be handled carefully around children.
For toddlers, simple colouring, large-piece crafts and storytelling are generally easier activities. School-age children can try paper crafts, clay modelling and quizzes, while older children can take on more elaborate decorations, research projects and storytelling.
The objective is participation, creativity and learning—not perfection.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Make learning part of the celebration
Ganesh Chaturthi can be an opportunity for children to learn about Indian traditions in a way that feels enjoyable and personal.
A colouring sheet can become a lesson in art. A Ganesha story can lead to a conversation about values. A clay craft can introduce the idea of sustainable celebrations. A family storytelling session can connect children with grandparents and older traditions.
With a little planning, families can make children active participants in the festival rather than passive observers.
Whether it is colouring a Ganesha picture, making a paper modak, listening to a traditional story or helping decorate the home, even a simple activity can create a lasting festive memory.
