Gauri Pujan, also known as Jyeshtha Gauri or Gauri Ganpati, is the three-day worship of Goddess Gauri that takes place during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. In 2026 it falls on Thursday, 17 September (Gauri Avahan), Friday, 18 September (Gauri Puja) and Saturday, 19 September (Gauri Visarjan). Celebrated with the most devotion in Maharashtra, Gauri is welcomed home as a beloved daughter and as a form of Mahalakshmi, the goddess of abundance and family well-being.
This is different from Gangaur (Gauri Tritiya), the spring festival observed in Rajasthan and parts of North India in March, and from Gowri Habba, the Karnataka observance that falls on 13 September 2026 alongside Hartalika Teej. If you are looking for the Gauri who arrives alongside Lord Ganesha, this guide is for you.
Gauri Pujan 2026 Dates and Muhurat
Jyeshtha Gauri is a three-day observance that sits within the ten days of Ganesh Chaturthi, which begins on Monday, 14 September 2026. The three days follow the Anuradha, Jyeshtha and Mula nakshatras in turn, which is why Gauri arrives three days after Ganesha rather than on a fixed tithi.
| Day | Date | Nakshatra | Muhurat (Dubai) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gauri Avahan (arrival) | Thursday, 17 September 2026 | Anuradha | 06:06 AM to 06:21 PM |
| Gauri Puja (main worship) | Friday, 18 September 2026 | Jyeshtha | 06:06 AM to 06:20 PM |
| Gauri Visarjan (farewell) | Saturday, 19 September 2026 | Mula | 06:07 AM to 06:19 PM |
Every window above is calculated for Dubai in Gulf Standard Time, not Indian Standard Time. Do not take a muhurat published for Mumbai or Pune and subtract an hour and a half from it. These windows run from local sunrise to local sunset, so they are set by where you are standing, not by a clock conversion: an Indian source will tell you Visarjan closes in the early afternoon, when in the UAE you actually have until 06:19 PM.
Because sunrise and sunset shift slightly across the Emirates, so do these windows. Sharjah and Ajman run about a minute ahead of Dubai and Abu Dhabi about four minutes behind, which is a rounding difference rather than a different day.
All three days, each nakshatra window and each muhurat, set to UAE local time.
Who is Jyeshtha Gauri?
Gauri is another name for Goddess Parvati, the mother of Lord Ganesha, worshipped here in her radiant, golden form as Mahalakshmi. During these three days she is invited into the home as an honoured guest and as a daughter returning to her parents. Married women, and those praying for a happy married life, welcome her for blessings of prosperity, harmony and children.
In many Maharashtrian homes two Gauris are installed together, representing Jyeshtha (the elder) and Kanishtha (the younger). They are dressed in fine sarees and ornaments and placed beside the Ganesh idol, so that mother and son are worshipped together.
The Three Days Explained
Day 1 - Gauri Avahan: The goddess is welcomed into the house. Her footprints are drawn from the doorway to the puja space with rangoli or kumkum, symbolising Lakshmi walking in, and the idols or masks are installed and decorated.
Day 2 - Gauri Puja: The main worship day. Gauri is offered a full puja and a naivedya of festive dishes, and families invite relatives and neighbours to take darshan. This is the day most people mean when they search for Gauri Pujan.
Day 3 - Gauri Visarjan: After a final aarti, the goddess is given a loving farewell and the idols are immersed, with a prayer that she returns again next year. Households that keep Ganesha for the full ten days carry on until Ganesh Visarjan on 25 September.
Gauri Puja Vidhi (Step by Step)
1. Preparation: Clean the puja area and decorate it with flowers, rangoli and torans. Place the Gauri idols or masks on a clean, raised platform beside Lord Ganesha.
2. Invocation: Begin by remembering Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, and then invoke Goddess Gauri with a lit diya and incense.
3. Offerings: Offer coconut, betel leaves, flowers, fruits and sweets. Haldi and kumkum along with a saree or ornaments are traditionally offered to the goddess.
4. Mantra: Chant a simple prayer with a calm and focused mind.
ॐ गौर्यै नमः
Om Gauryai Namah
Chanted while offering haldi, kumkum and flowers to the goddess on each of the three days.
5. Aarti and naivedya: Conclude with aarti and offer the festive naivedya, then share the prasad with family and guests.
Samagri for Gauri Pujan
A simple, complete set of samagri makes the puja unhurried and joyful. The essentials are fresh betel leaves and betel nut, coconut, haldi and kumkum, flowers and a garland, incense and a diya, and sweets for the naivedya. A saree or chunri for the goddess and a kalash for the sthapana complete the setup.
Gauri Pujan essentials
The items named in the vidhi above, all in stock for UAE delivery.
If you are setting up at home, our pooja boxes and samagri bring the basics together in one kit, and you can add a Gauri or Mahalakshmi idol from our idols collection. A copper Shree Mahalakshmi Yantra sits well on the same chowki, since Jyeshtha Gauri is worshipped in her Mahalakshmi form.
Do's and Don'ts
Do approach the puja with sincerity and a clean, calm space, follow your family's traditions, use fresh and pure ingredients, and pray earnestly for the well-being of your loved ones.
Avoid negativity or arguments during the puja, non-vegetarian food on these days, and unnecessary distractions. Try not to skip the main steps, as each ritual carries its own meaning.
Gauri Pujan in the UAE
The Maharashtrian and wider Indian community across the UAE celebrates Gauri Pujan warmly, from family setups at home in Dubai and Sharjah to community pujas in Abu Dhabi and Ajman. The dates are the same as in India because the observance follows the nakshatra, but the daily windows are not: use the Dubai timings in the table above rather than the ones published for an Indian city.
Avahan and Puja land on Thursday and Friday, both ordinary working days here, and Visarjan falls on Saturday. Most UAE families do the Avahan decoration the evening before and keep the main puja for Friday evening after work, then take the full weekend morning for Visarjan.
Sourcing samagri here is simple. Divine Sansar delivers pooja essentials, idols and fresh puja items across the Emirates, so you can welcome Gauri at home without last-minute running around. Fresh items in particular sell through in the Ganesh Chaturthi week, so ordering a few days before 17 September gives you time to set up calmly.
Gangaur vs Jyeshtha Gauri vs Gowri Habba
Three festivals honour Goddess Gauri and they are regularly mixed up. Gangaur, also called Gauri Tritiya, is celebrated in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and parts of North India in the month of Chaitra (March-April). Gowri Habba, or Swarna Gauri Vrata, is the Karnataka observance held the day before Ganesh Chaturthi, which in 2026 is Sunday 13 September. Jyeshtha Gauri, covered in this guide, is the Maharashtrian festival that falls during Ganesh Chaturthi in Bhadrapada (August-September).
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Gauri Pujan in 2026?
Gauri Avahan is on Thursday, 17 September 2026, Gauri Puja on Friday, 18 September 2026, and Gauri Visarjan on Saturday, 19 September 2026.
What is the Gauri Pujan muhurat in Dubai?
Avahan runs 06:06 AM to 06:21 PM on 17 September, Puja 06:06 AM to 06:20 PM on 18 September, and Visarjan 06:07 AM to 06:19 PM on 19 September, all in Gulf Standard Time.
Why do Indian websites show different Gauri Pujan timings?
Because those windows are calculated against Indian sunrise and sunset. The three days themselves are set by the Anuradha, Jyeshtha and Mula nakshatras and are the same everywhere, but the daily muhurat is local. Converting an Indian timing to UAE clock time gives you the wrong window, usually one that closes hours too early.
Is Gauri Pujan the same as Gangaur?
No. Gauri Pujan (Jyeshtha Gauri) is the Maharashtrian festival during Ganesh Chaturthi in September, while Gangaur is a separate spring festival celebrated mainly in Rajasthan in March. Gowri Habba in Karnataka is a third, separate observance.
How many days is Gauri Pujan?
It is a three-day observance - Avahan (arrival), Puja (main worship) and Visarjan (farewell) - held over consecutive days.
Why is Gauri worshipped with Ganesha?
Gauri is Goddess Parvati, the mother of Lord Ganesha. She is welcomed during Ganesh Chaturthi so that mother and son are honoured together, and she is revered as a form of Mahalakshmi.
What do you offer to Goddess Gauri?
Traditional offerings include coconut, betel leaves, flowers, fruits, haldi and kumkum, a saree or ornaments, and festive sweets as naivedya.
Can Gauri Pujan be done at home in the UAE?
Yes. Families across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman celebrate at home. Keep the same three dates, use the Dubai muhurat windows above, and arrange your samagri and idol a few days in advance.
Who traditionally performs Gauri Puja?
It is traditionally observed by married women for family prosperity and harmony, though the whole family takes part in welcoming and worshipping the goddess.
Conclusion
Gauri Pujan is a warm, homely festival - a mother welcomed as a daughter, bringing abundance and togetherness for the year ahead. Mark 17 to 19 September 2026, prepare your samagri with care, and invite Goddess Gauri into your home with devotion. May her blessings bring peace and prosperity to your family.
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