Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 in Sholapur: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

Sholapur (also spelled Solapur) is a major city in southern Maharashtra, sitting close to the Karnataka border in a region where Marathi, Kannada, and Urdu traditions blend into a distinctive cultural mix. As a Maharashtra city, Sholapur takes Ganesh Chaturthi extremely seriously — this is the state's most beloved festival, and the ten days of Ganapati Bappa Morya celebration transform the city's streets, squares, and neighbourhoods. Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 falls on September 14, and the city begins preparing weeks in advance. This guide covers the Hindu observance calendar leading up to the festival and the temples and mandirs where Sholapur's community gathers to celebrate.

Hindu Calendar in Sholapur: August–September 2026

Sankashti Chaturthi — August 2, 2026

In Maharashtra, Sankashti Chaturthi is the monthly Ganesha festival that precedes the grand annual celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi. Devotees fast from sunrise and break the fast only after spotting the moon in the evening, following special Ganesha puja. Sholapur's many Ganesh mandirs — including the Vikas Nagar Ganesh Temple and the bhaji market Ganesh temple — observe the monthly Sankashti with community prayer.

Ekadashi — August 9, 2026

The Vaishnava fast day of Ekadashi, falling on August 9 in the Sawan bright fortnight, brings devotees to Vishnu and Vitthal temples across the city. Sholapur has a strong Varkari tradition — the pilgrimage movement centred on Pandharpur, just 75 km away — making Ekadashi especially resonant here.

Amavasya — August 12, 2026

New moon day brings ancestral rites. Sawan Amavasya is additionally significant for Shiva devotees, and Sholapur's Mahadev Mandir in Sadar Bazar sees particular activity.

Nag Panchami — August 17, 2026

Nag Panchami in Maharashtra is one of the year's most actively observed folk festivals. Cobras are venerated at households and village shrines, milk and flowers are offered, and traditional Maharashtra sweets like Doodhi halwa are prepared. In the Sholapur region, the festival carries the full weight of North Karnataka and South Maharashtra folk tradition.

Ekadashi — August 23 | Pradosh Vrat — August 26

Kamika Ekadashi on August 23 and Pradosh Vrat on August 26 continue the devotional rhythm. Pradosh brings Shiva devotees to the Mahadev Mandir at Sadar Bazar and the Dakshin Mukhi Maruti Mandir at Lashkar Chowk for twilight abhisheka.

Sawan Purnima / Raksha Bandhan — August 28, 2026

Raksha Bandhan is one of the most widely celebrated festivals across Maharashtra. Sisters tie rakhi threads for brothers, and the day coincides with Sawan Purnima — the holy month's full moon. Sholapur's sweet shops, bazaars, and textile shops fill with customers in the days before August 28.

Krishna Janmashtami — September 4, 2026

Janmashtami, the midnight celebration of Krishna's birth, is observed with intense devotion in Maharashtra, particularly among the Varkari tradition that considers Krishna and Vitthal (the Pandharpur deity) to be closely linked. Sholapur's Krishna temples hold the traditional midnight abhisheka and Gopalkala celebrations on September 4.

Ganesh Chaturthi — September 14, 2026

This is the moment the city has been preparing for. Ganesh Chaturthi begins on September 14, 2026 and runs for ten days until Anant Chaturdashi on September 23. Clay Ganapati idols of every size — from tiny home installations to massive public mandap installations — are installed across Sholapur. The chant of "Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudcha Varshi Laukar Yaa" echoes through the city from the early morning of Chaturthi through the final immersion procession.

In Sholapur, Ganesh Chaturthi has a particular intensity — the city's strong community networks mean that neighbourhood sarvajanik (public) Ganesh mandals organize large-scale celebrations with cultural programmes, bhajans, traditional aarti, and modak distribution that run through all ten days.

Mandirs & Temples in Sholapur

Hanuman Mandir

Address: 102 D Ghongade Vasti, Sholapur

The Hanuman Mandir at Ghongade Vasti serves the local community with regular Hanuman puja. Tuesday and Saturday are the primary worship days, and the mandir holds special programmes during Hanuman Jayanti and the major festival seasons.

Mahadev Mandir

Address: Sadar Bazar, Sholapur

The Mahadev Mandir in Sadar Bazar is one of Sholapur's established Shiva shrines. Mondays, Pradosh Vrat days, and the month of Sawan bring heightened activity. The Sadar Bazar location makes it easily accessible to a broad swathe of the city's population.

Datt Mandir

Address: Lashkar Chowk, Sholapur

Datt Mandir is dedicated to Lord Dattatreya — the three-in-one deity uniting the aspects of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva — particularly revered in Maharashtra. Thursdays are the primary devotional day for Datta worship, and the Lashkar Chowk location places it in one of Sholapur's central areas.

Hanuman Shrine

Address: Opposite Darasha Hospital, Sholapur

This neighbourhood Hanuman shrine serves the community in the Darasha Hospital area of Sholapur. Street-level Hanuman shrines are integral to Maharashtra's religious landscape, serving as daily devotional touchpoints for residents.

Dakshin Mukhi Maruti Mandir

Address: Lashkar Chowk, Sholapur

The Dakshin Mukhi Maruti Mandir at Lashkar Chowk is named for its south-facing (dakshin mukhi) deity — a form of Maruti (Hanuman) considered particularly powerful in the Maharashtra tradition. South-facing Maruti temples have a devoted following among those who seek the deity's most potent protective blessings.

Jai Jagdamba Mandir

Address: South Sadar Bazaar, Sholapur

Jai Jagdamba Mandir is dedicated to the mother goddess Jagdamba — a form of Durga or Amba venerated across Maharashtra. During Navaratri, this temple becomes a centre of activity, but it serves its surrounding community year-round.

Vikas Nagar Ganesh Temple

Address: Vikas Nagar, Hotgi Road, Sholapur

Located in Vikas Nagar on Hotgi Road, this dedicated Ganesha temple is the neighbourhood's primary centre for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. The temple's Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav is a key event in this part of Sholapur's festival calendar.

Ram Mandir

Address: Sadar Bazar, Sholapur

The Ram Mandir in Sadar Bazar serves Sholapur's Vaishnava community with daily puja dedicated to Lord Rama. Ram Navami is the festival highlight, but the temple also marks Janmashtami, Ekadashi, and the full cycle of Hindu observances through the year.

Ganesh Temple (Bhaji Market)

Address: 102 D 47 Bhaji Market, Sholapur

The Ganesh Temple at the Bhaji Market is a neighbourhood institution, inseparable from the daily commerce and community life of the market. Street-level Ganesh shrines in markets are among the most actively used in Maharashtra — devotees stop to fold hands before and after their transactions, and the presiding deity is considered the market's protector and the remover of commercial obstacles.

Celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi in Sholapur

For visitors and new residents, the best way to experience Ganesh Chaturthi in Sholapur is to walk the neighbourhood mandap circuits after dark — the elaborately decorated Ganapati installations are most dramatic when illuminated at night. Modak, ukadiche modak, and chivda are widely distributed as prasad. The final immersion procession (visarjan) on Anant Chaturdashi (September 23) is the most spectacular public event of the season.