The festival is a 10-day long celebration with several people bringing the Ganesha idols either at home, office spaces, or local area pandals. The idols are decorated and offerings are placed in front of the idol. The special offerings include modak, payasam, coconut rice, motichoor laddoo, shrikhand, and many other sweets which is considered to be a favourite of Ganesha. Devotees then visit temples and pandals during these 10 days to pay respect and offer prayers to Lord Ganesha. The highlight of the festival is the immersion of the idols in water or Ganpati Visarjan, which is done on the 1.5th day, 5th day, and 10th day. Due to the environmental impact, these days idol makers are innovating using eco-friendly materials.
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There are slight variations in the way the festival is celebrated in both South and North India. For example in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh Gauri or Gowri Habba (known as Hartalika in North India) is celebrated one day before Ganesh Chaturthi. On this occasion Gowri, the mother of Ganesha and wife of Shiva, is worshipped. It is especially important for married women who keep a fast on this day known as the Swarna Gowri vratha. Women also make ‘Arishinadagauri’, an idol of Goddess Gowri made out of turmeric. It is also adorned with mango flowers and leaves.
Regional delicacies such as Payasam, Obattu, Bajjis, Chitranna, Gojju and kosambari is also made during the festival.
South India is also known for a different form of Ganesha which is known as Adi Vinayaka or primordial form of Ganesha. In this form, Ganesha appears with a human head instead of an elephant's head as it represents the form before decapitation by his father, Shiva. The temple dedicated exclusively to this form of Ganesha is located in Tamil Nadu, near Thilatharpanapuri (around 2 km away from Koothnur). This form is also known as 'Nara Mukha' Vinayaka.