Sankashti Chaturthi 2023

Sankashti Chaturthi is a famous festival of Hinduism. According to Hindu beliefs, Lord Ganesha is worshiped before doing any auspicious task. Lord Ganesha is the first-worshipped God among all Gods and Goddesses. He has the status of God, who gives intelligence, strength, and wisdom.  Lord Ganesha takes away all the troubles and obstacles of his devotees; hence, they are also called Vighnaharta and Sankatmochan. Many fasts are kept to please the Gods and Goddesses in the Hindu religion, but Sakat chauth or Sankashti chaturthi fasting for Lord Ganesha is very popular. Let us know in detail about Sankashti Chaturthi.

इस पेज को हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए “संकष्टी चतुर्थी” पर क्लिक करें।

When is Sankashti Chaturthi?

Sankashti Chaturthi is celebrated on Krishna Paksha and Shukla Paksha's fourth day. According to the Hindu calendar, Chaturthi comes twice every month, which people celebrate with great reverence. The Chaturthi that falls after the full moon is called Sankashti Chaturthi, while the Chaturthi after Amavasya is called Vinayaka Chaturthi. Sankashti Chaturthi is considered a special day to worship Lord Ganesha. According to the scriptures, Chaturthi, after the full moon that falls in the month of Magha is very auspicious. This auspicious day is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm in the northern and southern states of India.

What is Sankashti Chaturthi or Sakat Chauth?

Sankashti Chaturthi means the Chaturthi that removes obstacles. Sankashti is a word taken from the Sanskrit language, which means 'to get rid of hard times.'

On this day, the devotee worships Ganapati to get rid of his sorrows. According to the Puranas, worshiping Gauri's son Ganesh on Chaturthi is very fruitful. On this day, people keep fast from sunrise up to the time of moonrise. Ganesh is worshiped on Sankashti Chaturthi as per all the Vedic rules. 

Importance of Sankashti Chaturthi

Worshiping Ganapati on the day of Sankashti removes negative influences from the house and maintains peace. It is said that Ganesha removes all the disasters coming in the house and fulfills the wishes of his devotees. Chandra Darshan is also considered very auspicious on the day of Chaturthi. This fast, which starts from sunrise, ends after having a glimpse of the Moon. Thirteen fasts of Sankashti Chaturthi are kept throughout the year. There is a different fast story for all the fasts. 

Importance of Chandra darshan on Sankashti Chaturthi

According to astrologers, this fast will be complete after having a glimpse of the moon at night. One should keep a fast all day. After seeing the moon at night, worship Ganesha. Offer him sesame, jaggery, laddus, scutch grass, sandalwood, and sweet, listen to the story, and then take Prasad.

Different Names of Sankashti Chaturthi

In this festival dedicated to Lord Ganesha, devotees worship him and keep fast to get rid of their lives' difficulties and bad times.  Sankashti Chaturthi is also known by many different names. In many places, it is called Sankat Hara and also Sakat Chauth at some places. If this festival falls on a Tuesday in any month, then it is called Angarki Chaturthi. Angarki Chaturthi comes once in 6 months, and by fasting on this day, the devotee gets the benefit of the entire Sankashti. People in South India celebrate this day with great enthusiasm and gaiety. On this day, by meditating on Lord Ganesha with a pious soul, one can get one's wishes fulfilled. One also gets special benefits. 

Worshipping Method & Mantra of Sankashti Chaturthi

People who believe in Ganpati keep fast on this day to please him and pray to him to fulfill their wishes. 

1. On this day, you should get up before sunrise. 

2. Those, who keep fast on this day, should take a bath and put on a neat and clean dress. Putting on a red-colored dress on this day is considered very auspicious.  By doing this, one can make one’s fast purposeful. 

3. After taking a bath, devotees should start worshipping Ganpati. While worshipping Ganpati, the devotees should keep their faces in the east or the north direction.  

4. First of all, you should decorate the idol of Ganpati with flowers. 

5. While worshipping, you should keep sesame, jaggery, laddu, flowers, water in a copper urn, dhoop, and sandalwood, and keep coconut and bananas in the form of Prasad. 

6. Remember to keep with you an idol or statue of Goddess Durga also while worshipping.  Doing this is considered very auspicious. 

7. Apply Roli on the forehead of Ganpati, and offer flowers and water to Him.

8. On Sankashti, offer Bhog of sesame laddu and sweets to Lord Ganpati.

9. In front of Ganpati, burn Diya and Dhoop and enchant the following mantra: 

गजाननं भूत गणादि सेवितं, कपित्थ जम्बू फल चारू भक्षणम्।

उमासुतं शोक विनाशकारकम्, नमामि विघ्नेश्वर पाद पंकजम्।।

10. After worshipping, do not eat anything except fruits, groundnut, Kheer, milk, or Sago. Most people use rock salt on a fast day. But you should try to brush aside this salt.

11. In the evening, worship lord Ganpati before the moonrise and recite Sankashti Chaturthi's fast story. 

12. After Pooja is over, distribute Prasad. At night, fast is broken after seeing the moon. And in this way, the fast of Sankashti Chaturthi is carried out. 

Do Not Eat the Following Things on Sakat Chauth

According to Shastras (scriptures), one should avoid root cultivation. So, you should avoid eating radish, onions, carrots, and sugar beets. It is presumed that eating radish on this day is considered inauspicious.

Offer Arghya of Sesame and Jaggery to the Moon at Evening

After sunset, one should offer Arghya containing sesame and jaggery to the moon. After offering this Arghya, one should break the fast. After worshipping Ganeshji, one should eat Prasad of sesame. Those who do not keep a fast should also eat things made up of sesame in the evening after worshipping Ganesha. It is said that by eating sesame or by pronouncing the name of sesame, one can ward off one’s sins. The donation of sesame on this day is also considered auspicious. 

Worship Lord Ganesha with Scutch Grass

One should offer scutch grass to Ganeshji. It is believed that nectar is present in the scutch grass. One gets good health by offering scutch grass to Ganeshji. There is also an increase in one’s prestige and wealth. If possible, then one should offer scutch grass to Ganesh every day. But remember not to offer Tulsi leaves to Ganeshji. Offering these leaves makes Ganeshji angry. It is so because Tulsi cursed Ganeshji. 

Aarti of Ganeshji

जय गणेश, जय गणेश, जय गणेश देवा।

माता जाकी पार्वती, पिता महादेवा।।

एकदन्त दयावन्त, चार भुजाधारी।

माथे पर तिलक सोहे, मूसे की सवारी।।

पान चढ़े फूल चढ़े, और चढ़े मेवा।

लड्डुअन का भोग लगे, सन्त करें सेवा।।

जय गणेश, जय गणेश, जय गणेश देवा।

माता जाकी पार्वती, पिता महादेवा।।

अंधे को आंख देत, कोढ़िन को काया।

बांझन को पुत्र देत,निर्धन को माया।।

'सूर' श्याम शरण आए, सफल कीजे सेवा।

माता जाकी पार्वती, पिता महादेवा।।

दीनन की लाज राखो, शम्भु सुतवारी।

कामना को पूर्ण करो, जग बलिहारी।।

जय गणेश, जय गणेश, जय गणेश देवा।

माता जाकी पार्वती, पिता महादेवा।।

Mythological Story

According to a mythological and famous story of Ganesha, once the lord was surrounded by many troubles. Then, he went to Lord Shiva for help. At that time, Karthikeya and Ganeshji were sitting with Shiva. On hearing the matter of deities, Shiva asked Karthikeya and Ganeshji who of them could mitigate the troubles of deities. Then, both Karthikeya and Ganeshji told him that they were capable.

On hearing this, Lord Shiva, taking both of them, said that who of you come first after taking the earth's rotation will help deities.  

On hearing the words delivered from Lord Shiva's mouth, Karthikeya sat on his vehicle, peacock, to set out for the earth's rotation. But Ganeshji started thinking that if he took the earth's rotation by sitting on the mouse, he would be spending lots of time in it. Then, an idea struck him. He got up from his place, took his parents' rotation seven times, and returned to his place. When Karthikeya returned after taking the rotation of the earth, he declared himself a winner. Then, lord Shiva asked Shri Ganesha the reason for not taking the rotation of the earth. 

Ganesha said, “The whole earth lies in the feet of parents” On hearing this, Lord Shiva ordered Ganesha to remove the deities' obstacles. In this way, Lord Shiva blessed Ganesha and told him that whoever would worship him on lunar fortnight's fourth day (Chaturthi day) and offer Arghya to the moon in the night, his three types of problems—bodily problems, divine problems, and physical problems—would vanish. 

By keeping this fast, one’s problems will disappear, and one will get all the physical happiness in one’s life. There will be complete happiness and prosperity all around. One will be blessed with children and grandchildren and wealth and prosperity. 

Sankashti Chaturthi or Sakat Chauth Vrat Katha

There are dozens of mythological fables behind the celebration of Sankashti Chaturthi. But I am going to explain to you the most famous story behind its celebration. 

Once mother Parvati and Lord Shiva were sitting near a river. Then, suddenly, mother Parvati expressed her desire to play Chopad. But there were none to take part in that Chopad game except them. Finding the solution to this problem, lord Shiva and Parvati made an idol of soil and put life into it. Both of them ordered the body made up of soil to carefully watch the game and declare who the winner is and who the loser is. The game started, and mother Parvati was winning by tricking lord Shiva. 

The game went on, but the boy declared mother Parvati a loser by mistake. This mistake of the boy made mother Parvati angry, and she cursed him angrily. And he became lame; the boy begged mother to pardon him. On seeing this boy's repeated request, the mother said that this curse could not be reversed, but she could tell him one remedy by which he would be free the curse. The mother said that on Sankashti day, some girls come here to do Pooja, and he should ask them about the method of this Pooja, and accordingly, he should perform Pooja with full devotion. 

Knowing the method of fast, the boy performed it accordingly. Lord Ganesha became pleased with his true devotion and asked for his desire. The boy expressed his desire to go to mother Parvati and Lord Shiva. Lord Ganesha fulfilled his wish and took him to ‘Shivalok.’ But he found only lord Shiva when he reached there. Mother Parvati had gone to Kailash after being upset with lord Shiva. When Lord Shiva asked this boy how he reached here, he said that he got this blessing after worshipping Lord Ganesha. After knowing this, lord Shiva also did this fast to please mother Parvati. Being pleased with lord Shiva, mother Parvati returns from Kailash. 

Know How Many Chaturthi Day Comes in a Year

The Chaturthi day that comes after Purnima is called Sankashti Chaturthi. Similarly, the Chaturthi day that comes after Amavasya is called Vinayak Chaturthi. In other words, the Chaturthi day of Krishna Paksha is called Sankashti Chaturthi, and the Chaturthi day of Shukla Paksha is called Vinayak Chaturthi.

Read more about important Hindu festivals, date and significance and Chandrodaya time today.