Ankita Lokhande explains Gauri Poojan significance to Ekta Kapoor at Ganesh Chaturthi
Synopsis
Ankita Lokhande turned her Gauri-Ganpati celebration into a heartfelt cultural lesson — explaining to close friend Ekta Kapoor why Gauri Maa visits her maika and departs with Lord Ganesha at Visarjan. The intimate video from her mother's home, featuring an emotional aarti and a light-hearted Ekta-Vicky moment, gave fans a rare look inside a traditional Maharashtrian festive household.
Key Takeaways
Ankita Lokhande celebrated Gauri-Ganpati at her mother's residence in Mumbai on 19 September 2026 .
She explained the significance of Gauri Sthapna and Gauri Maa's maika visit to producer Ekta Kapoor .
Gauri Avahan is observed on the fourth day of Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtrian tradition.
Husband Vicky Jain joined the festivities; Ekta Kapoor and Jain were seen sharing a light-hearted moment together.
Lokhande performed an emotional Ganpati aarti , singing aloud in traditional attire.
Television actress Ankita Lokhande celebrated the Gauri-Ganpati festival at her mother's residence in Mumbai on 19 September 2026, alongside close friend and producer Ekta Kapoor, husband Vicky Jain, and family members. In a video shared on social media, Lokhande was seen explaining the cultural and religious significance of Gauri Sthapna to Kapoor, offering a glimpse into traditional Maharashtrian observances of the festival.
The Significance of Gauri Maa's Arrival
Lokhande explained that Gauri Maa is believed to visit her maika — her maternal home — during the festival period. The tradition holds that after spending time at the maika, Gauri Maa departs alongside her son, Lord Ganesha, an event marked by the Gauri-Ganpati Visarjan. She elaborated on how this ritual is observed across Maharashtrian households, grounding the celebration in its devotional and familial roots. Notably, Gauri Avahan falls on the fourth day of Ganesh Chaturthi.
How the Celebrations Unfolded
Lokhande was dressed in an elegant traditional cream-and-gold saree, accessorised with traditional gold jewellery, green bangles, and a gajra in her neatly tied bun. Her husband Vicky Jain joined the festivities in a traditional orange-brown kurta. Ekta Kapoor was seen sharing a light-hearted moment with Jain — the two were captured giggling and laughing together as Lokhande attended to guests and participated in the rituals.
An Emotional Aarti Moment
One of the more moving segments of the video showed Lokhande performing the Ganpati aarti with visible emotion, singing aloud while dressed in her traditional ensemble. The moment resonated with fans of the actress, who frequently shares her devotion to Ganpati through social media around this time of year. The setting — believed to be her mother's home — added an intimate, familial dimension to the celebration.
Ekta Kapoor and Ankita: A Bond Beyond the Sets
Kapoor and Lokhande share a longstanding personal and professional bond, with Kapoor having been a key figure in the actress's television career. Their camaraderie at the Gauri-Ganpati celebration underscored a friendship that extends well beyond the professional sphere. This comes amid a wider surge in celebrity-led Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations being shared online, which routinely draw significant public interest each year.
Point of View
But Lokhande's video does something slightly different — it documents a living ritual tradition for an audience that may not be familiar with the Maharashtrian Gauri-Ganpati customs. With Ganesh Chaturthi generating enormous search traffic every year, content that combines star power with genuine cultural explanation earns its visibility. The more interesting subtext here is what the Lokhande-Kapoor relationship signals: in an industry where public feuds dominate headlines, visible, sustained friendship between a star and a producer is quietly notable.
NationPress
19 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gauri Poojan and why is it significant during Ganesh Chaturthi?
Gauri Poojan is a Maharashtrian tradition observed during Ganesh Chaturthi in which Gauri Maa — considered the mother of Lord Ganesha — is believed to visit her maika, or maternal home. She departs alongside Lord Ganesha during the Gauri-Ganpati Visarjan. Gauri Avahan falls on the fourth day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
What did Ankita Lokhande explain to Ekta Kapoor in the video?
Ankita Lokhande explained the significance of Gauri Sthapna and the traditional Maharashtrian customs associated with Gauri Maa's arrival and departure. She described how Gauri Maa is believed to visit her maika and later leaves with her son, Lord Ganesha, at Visarjan.
Where was the Gauri-Ganpati celebration held?
The celebration appears to have taken place at Ankita Lokhande's mother's residence in Mumbai, based on the setting visible in the social media video.
Who attended the Gauri-Ganpati celebrations with Ankita Lokhande?
Producer Ekta Kapoor and Lokhande's husband Vicky Jain were among those present. Ekta Kapoor is described as a close friend and mentor of Lokhande, while Jain was seen participating in the festivities in traditional attire.
What was Ankita Lokhande wearing for the Gauri-Ganpati celebrations?
Lokhande wore a traditional cream-and-gold saree paired with gold jewellery, green bangles, and a gajra in her hair. Her husband Vicky Jain was dressed in a traditional orange-brown kurta.
