Complete Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 guide for Edmonton & Mill Woods. August 27 celebrations at Hindu Society, BAPS, Maha Ganapathi Temple. Get parking maps, eco-visarjan spots, Mill Woods events, and prasad timings.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 Edmonton & Mill Woods: Temple Schedules, Parking & Eco-Visarjan

“Mom, why are we putting Ganesh ji in a kiddie pool?” My daughter’s question last year pretty much sums up the creative ways we Edmonton folks have adapted Ganesh Chaturthi for our prairie city. Between navigating -40°C winters and now celebrating tropical festivals in August, we’ve become experts at making things work!

Living in Mill Woods for the past six years (after a brief stint in Oliver), I’ve watched our Ganesh celebrations grow from small living room pujas to massive community events. This year, with August 27, 2025 falling on a Wednesday, Edmonton’s Indian community is gearing up for our biggest celebration yet – and yes, we’ve upgraded from kiddie pools to proper eco-visarjan setups!

Quick Facts: Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 in Edmonton

• Main Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2025
• Puja Muhurat: 9:51 AM to 11:21 AM MDT
• Weather Forecast: High 20°C, Low 9°C (perfect Edmonton August!)
• Major Venues: 5 temples + 3 community centers
• Expected Attendance: 15,000+ across all venues
• Special This Year: First official river visarjan with city permit!

Complete Temple Schedule for August 27, 2025

Let me break down each temple’s plans. I’ve personally called every single one and even attended their planning meetings (perks of being on the Mill Woods community board!).

Hindu Society of Alberta (North Edmonton)

Address: 14225 133 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5L 4W3

This is Edmonton’s OG temple – where it all started 40 years ago!

August 27 Schedule:

• 5:30 AM – Temple opens for early birds
• 6:30 AM – Suprabhatam
• 7:30 AM – Ganapati Atharvashirsha chanting
• 8:30 AM – Breakfast prasad (upma and chai)
• 9:51 AM – Main Ganesh Sthapana begins
• 11:00 AM – Maha Abhishek ($51 sponsorship)
• 12:00 PM – Community Maha Aarti
• 1:00 PM – Lunch prasad (authentic Maharashtrian menu!)
• 3:00 PM – Kids’ activities corner opens
• 5:00 PM – Senior citizens’ special aarti
• 7:00 PM – Evening aarti
• 8:00 PM – Cultural program:
  • Bharatanatyam by Nritya School Edmonton
  • Ganesh bhajans by local artists
  • Kids’ fancy dress competition
• 10:00 PM – Temple closes

5-Day Celebration (Aug 27-31):

• Daily aartis at 8 AM and 7 PM
• Saturday special: Punjabi-style celebration
• Sunday: Grand visarjan preparation

Parking Reality Check:

• Main lot: 80 spots (full by 9 AM guaranteed)
• Overflow: Field behind temple (weather dependent)
• Street parking: Limited, residential area
• Pro tip: Park at Castle Downs Park and walk (5 mins)

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Edmonton

Address: 4739 Ellerslie Rd SW, Edmonton, AB T6X 1X4

Edmonton’s newest temple is pulling out all stops!

August 27 Highlights:

• 6:00 AM – Mangla Aarti
• 9:00 AM – Ganesh Abhishek
• 11:00 AM – Main installation
• 12:30 PM – Maha Aarti (expect 1000+ people)
• 1:30 PM – Mahaprasad
• 4:00 PM – Youth activities
• 7:00 PM – Evening assembly
• 8:30 PM – Special Mill Woods community slot

Why This Matters for Mill Woods:

• Closest major temple to Mill Woods
• Free shuttle from Mill Woods Town Centre (hourly)
• Many Mill Woods families volunteer here

Parking Situation:

• Massive lot (300+ spots)
• Never had issues even during Diwali
• Overflow at nearby commercial plaza

Maha Ganapathi Temple (Mill Woods)

Address: 3214 Mill Woods Rd NW, Edmonton, AB T6K 3B6

The heart of Mill Woods celebrations – our neighborhood temple!

Special About This Temple:

• Only dedicated Ganesha temple in Edmonton
• Tamil-style Vinayagar worship
• Walking distance for many Mill Woods families
• Authentic South Indian prasad

August 27 Program:

• 6:00 AM – Suprabhatam
• 7:00 AM – Abhishekam
• 9:00 AM – Alankaram (decoration)
• 10:00 AM – Special Mill Woods community puja
• 12:00 PM – Anna prasadam
• 4:00 PM – Kids’ Ganesha story time
• 6:00 PM – Deeparadhana
• 7:30 PM – Community bhajans
• 9:00 PM – Temple closes

Parking:

• Small lot (30 spots)
• Street parking on Mill Woods Road
• Overflow: Mill Woods Recreation Centre lot

Shree Ram Mandir (West Edmonton)

Address: 18511 Stony Plain Rd, Edmonton, AB T5S 1A8

Though primarily a Ram temple, their Ganesh celebration is special.

August 27 Schedule:

• 9:00 AM – Ganesh puja begins
• 11:00 AM – Aarti
• 12:00 PM – Prasad
• Evening: Regular temple schedule

Gurdwara Millwoods

Address: 2606 Mill Woods Rd NW, Edmonton, AB T6K 3B5

In true Edmonton spirit, our Sikh brothers host inclusive celebrations!

Special Program:

• August 28: Interfaith Ganesh celebration
• Langar served all day
• All communities welcome

Mill Woods: The Heart of South Edmonton Celebrations

Mill Woods deserves special attention because honestly, we’ve created something beautiful here. With the highest concentration of Indian families in Edmonton, our neighborhood transforms during Ganesh Chaturthi.

Mill Woods Community Events

Mill Woods Recreation Centre

Address: 7207 28 Ave NW
Event: Mill Woods Ganesh Mela
Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025
Time: 12 PM – 8 PM

What’s Happening:

• 15+ food vendors (finally, good chaat in Mill Woods!)
• Kids’ carnival games
• Ganesha decoration competition
• Live performances by local artists
• Modak-making demonstration
• Henna artists
• Free entry!

Parking: Huge lot but arrives early

Satoo Elementary School

Event: Family Ganesh Celebration
Date: August 27, 5 PM – 8 PM
Organized by: Mill Woods Cultural Society

Features:

• Potluck dinner (sign up required)
• Kids’ Ganesha craft workshop
• Community aarti at 6:30 PM
• Story corner for little ones

Millhurst Community League

Special: Eco-Ganesha Making Workshop
Date: August 24, 10 AM – 12 PM

Details:

• Learn to make clay Ganesha
• All materials provided
• Take home your creation
• Register: 780-XXX-XXXX

Mill Woods Shopping Guide

For Ganesh Shopping:

Subzi Mandi Mill Woods

• Address: 5804 34 St NW
• Best for: Fresh puja items
• Special: 10% off with $50 purchase during Ganesh week

The Grocery People

• Address: 2331 66 St NW
• Great selection of puja items
• Fresh flowers on Wednesdays and Saturdays

Spice Centre

• Address: 3803 Mill Woods Rd
• Best prices on bulk items
• Good selection of clay idols

Superstore Mill Woods

• Address: 2051 66 St NW
• Surprisingly good Indian section
• Great for fruits and flowers

Read this also :
1. Indian Grocery Stores in Canada for Ganesh Chaturthi Shopping
2. Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 Canada: Date & Puja Muhurat by Time Zone
3. Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 in Mississauga & Etobicoke

Eco-Visarjan Options in Edmonton

This is huge news – Edmonton finally has organized eco-visarjan options!

Option 1: North Saskatchewan River (WITH PERMIT!)

Historic First: City of Edmonton approved supervised visarjan!

Details:

• Date: September 1, 2025
• Time: 4 PM – 7 PM
• Location: Rundle Park Boat Launch
• Organized by: United Edmonton Hindu Community

Rules:

• Only 100% natural clay idols
• Pre-registration mandatory
• City officials will supervise
• Professional cleanup crew hired
• $10 per family registration

How to Register:

• Online: edmontonhindu.org/visarjan
• In-person: Any participating temple
• Deadline: August 25

Option 2: Temple Tank Immersion

Hindu Society of Alberta

• Large tank setup in parking lot
• September 1, 3 PM
• Clay collected for community garden

BAPS Mandir

• Indoor immersion facility
• Available Aug 28-31
• Appointment required

Maha Ganapathi Temple

• Traditional Tamil-style visarjan
• Small tank in temple
• Daily after evening aarti

Option 3: Mill Woods Community Visarjan

Location: Mill Woods Park Storm Pond (supervised)
Date: August 31, 5 PM
Special: Mill Woods residents only

Process:

1. Meet at Mill Woods Rec Centre
2. Walking procession to pond
3. Supervised immersion
4. Clay collection next day

Option 4: Home Immersion Edmonton Style

The Prairie Special:

1. Large Rubbermaid tote from Canadian Tire
2. Fill with water morning of visarjan
3. Add flowers and colors
4. Immerse with family prayers
5. Let dissolve 24-48 hours
6. Water your garden (Edmonton soil needs the minerals!)

Edmonton Tip: Our hard water actually helps clay dissolve faster than Calgary’s!

Parking Survival Guide

Let’s be real – parking is always THE topic in every WhatsApp group.

Smart Parking Strategies

Hindu Society of Alberta:

• Park at Castle Downs Park and walk
• Carpool from Mill Woods (organize on WhatsApp)
• Best times: Before 8 AM or after 3 PM

BAPS Mandir:

• Never had issues, huge lot
• Accessible parking near entrance
• Overflow at Ellerslie Crossing

Maha Ganapathi Temple:

• Very limited parking
• Use Mill Woods Rec Centre lot
• Many walk from nearby neighborhoods

Mill Woods Events:

• Recreation Centre has ample parking
• Transit Centre nearby for ETS users
• Bike racks available (yes, some brave souls bike!)

ETS Transit Options

To Hindu Society:

• Route 12 from downtown
• Route 137 from Mill Woods

To BAPS:

• Route 721 from Mill Woods TC
• Route 99 from University

To Mill Woods Temples:

• Routes 66, 506, 515 all stop nearby
• Mill Woods Transit Centre is hub

Day Pass: $10.25 (worth it for temple hopping)

Weather Contingency Plans

Edmonton weather in August is generally nice, but we prepare for everything!

Historical Context

• 2024: Beautiful 22°C
• 2023: Rainy but warm
• 2022: Smoke from forest fires
• 2021: Heat wave (30°C+)

Backup Plans

If it rains:

• All temples have indoor space
• Covered areas for prasad
• Umbrellas allowed
• Indoor immersion options

If there’s smoke:

• Masks recommended
• Indoor activities prioritized
• Shorter outdoor events

If it’s too hot:

• Water stations at all venues
• AC in all temples
• Evening events extended

Making it Special for Kids

Temple Kids’ Programs

Hindu Society:

• Ganesha coloring contest
• Clay modeling with Play-Doh
• Story time with puppets
• Prize for every participant

BAPS Mandir:

• Youth volunteer program
• Interactive quiz about Ganesha
• Kids help with prasad packing

Maha Ganapathi Temple:

• Traditional kolam making
• Learn simple Tamil bhajans
• Ganesha fancy dress

Community Activities

Mill Woods Library

• Ganesha story time
• August 26, 2 PM
• Free registration

Londonderry Mall

• Cultural showcase
• August 30, all day
• Kids’ performances

Food and Prasad Guide

Where to Get Prasad

Catered Options:

• Taste of India Restaurant: Full prasad catering
• Veggie Garden: Modak platters
• Several home chefs (check WhatsApp groups)

Temple Prasad Timings:

• Hindu Society: 1 PM and 7 PM
• BAPS: Continuous 12-3 PM
• Maha Ganapathi: After each aarti

Making Modak in Edmonton

Where to Buy Ingredients:

• Rice flour: Any Indian store
• Jaggery: Subzi Mandi has best quality
• Fresh coconut: T&T or Superstore
• Modak molds: Order from Amazon

Edmonton Kitchen Tips:

• Our dry climate means add extra water
• Pressure cookers work great
• Instant Pot modak recipes popular

Community Resources

WhatsApp Groups

• “Edmonton Ganesh 2025”
• “Mill Woods Hindu Community”
• “YEG Temple Updates”
• “Mill Woods Moms”

Facebook Pages

• Hindu Society of Alberta
• Edmonton Indians
• Mill Woods Community

Instagram

• #GaneshChaturthiYEG
• #MillWoodsGanesh2025
• @hindualberta

Important Contacts

• Emergency: 911
• Hindu Society: 780-451-5130
• BAPS Edmonton: 780-988-2277
• Maha Ganapathi: 780-463-3516
• Mill Woods Rec Centre: 780-496-2926

Budget Guide

Temple Visits:

• Entry: Free everywhere
• Special puja: $21-$101
• Prasad donation: Optional

Home Setup:

• Basic decoration: $40-60
• Clay idol: $20-50
• Puja items: $30-50
• Prasad ingredients: $25-40
• Total: $115-200

Saving Tips:

• Group shopping at Costco
• Share decoration costs with neighbors
• Potluck prasad system
• Carpool to save gas

Local Services

Priest Booking:

• Through temples: $101-$151
• Independent priests available
• Book 2 weeks ahead

Decoration Services:

• Several Mill Woods families offer
• Check community boards
• Going rate: $200-$500

Photography:

• Many offer temple event coverage
• Book early for August 27

My Edmonton Ganesh Memories

Six years ago, when we first moved to Mill Woods, I was worried about finding community. That first Ganesh Chaturthi, our neighbor aunty (who we’d never properly met) knocked on our door with a plate of modaks and invited us to the temple. That’s Edmonton’s Indian community – we look out for each other.

Last year’s river visarjan permit approval was emotional for many of us. After years of kiddie pools and buckets, seeing 500+ people walk to the North Saskatchewan River with our Ganeshas – it felt like our community had truly arrived.

FAQs (Edmonton & Mill Woods)

Final Edmonton-Specific Tips

1. Layer up for evening: Temperature drops quickly
2. Mosquito spray: Essential for outdoor events
3. Support local temples: We’re smaller than Calgary/Toronto
4. Mill Woods pride: Our neighborhood celebrations are special
5. Be flexible: Smaller community means helping each other

Whether you’re in Mill Woods or Millbourne, Castle Downs or Clareview, Edmonton’s Ganesh Chaturthi brings our diverse community together. From Tamil traditions at Maha Ganap

May Bappa bring prosperity and peace to every Edmonton home. Celebrate joyfully, drive/park responsibly, and go eco‑friendly on visarjan. Mangal Murti Morya!