Anant Chaturdashi is a festival celebrated by Hindus and Jains worldwide, dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his Anant (Infinite) form. It is observed on the fourteenth day of the moons waxing phase during the Hindu month of Bhadrapada. The festival is marked by the immersion of Ganesha idols, wearing a sacred thread (yajnopavita), prayers, and religious rituals. The Ananta (Shesha; the divine serpent) manifestation of Vishnu is venerated on this occasion to free adherents from sins.

The festival is also known as Ganesh Chaudas and marks the last day of the ten-day-long Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Devotees bid adieu to the deity Ganesha by immersing his idols in water. The word "Anant" means endless, and devotees believe that Lord Narayana will clear all the difficulties in ones life if the Anant Vrata is observed with utmost devotion.

The festival has a legend behind it, found in the Mahabharata. It recounts the story of a woman named Sushila, who encountered a group of women worshipping Ananta near a riverbank. They explained that the performance of this vrata (pious observance) would earn great merit for the performer and offer them safety. Sushila observed the vrata and tied a thread with 14 knots, symbolizing Lord Anant, on a cucumber and swirled it five times in the "Ocean of milk". Later, this Anant thread was tied on the right arm by men and on the left arm by women. This Anant thread is removed after 14 days.

The sage Kaundinya dishonored Lord Anant by ripping the thread from Sushilas arm and throwing it in the fire. As a result, he went through endless miseries and soon became a pauper. After explaining the significance of the unusual sights Kaundinya had observed during his journey, Anant assumed the guise of an old Brahmin man and appeared before him, following which Kaundinya pleaded for forgiveness. The Lord advised him to observe the fourteen-year vow to regain his wealth. Kaundinya promised to observe the fast with sincerity for fourteen consecutive Anant Chaturdashis, giving birth to the belief.