What Is Sankashti Chaturthi? Vrat Vidhi, Moonrise Arghya, Angarki Chaturthi and Puja Items
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What is Sankashti Chaturthi and how to keep it? The Krishna Paksha Chaturthi, the Ganesha puja vidhi, breaking the fast with moonrise arghya, Angarki Chaturthi and puja items.
Sankashti Chaturthi is a vrat kept for Lord Ganesha on the Krishna Paksha Chaturthi of each month. "Sankashti" means the one that removes trouble. Devotees fast through the day, worship Ganesha in the evening and break the fast after seeing the moon and offering arghya.
**Key Takeaways** - Tithi: the Krishna Paksha Chaturthi of each month - Ganesha is worshipped, and the fast is broken after moonrise - Moonrise differs by city, so check the panchang for yours - A Sankashti Chaturthi falling on Tuesday is called Angarki Chaturthi - The Shukla Paksha Chaturthi is called Vinayaka Chaturthi, which gives Ganesh Chaturthi its name
When Does Sankashti Chaturthi Fall?
Each lunar month has two Chaturthis. The Krishna Paksha Chaturthi is Sankashti Chaturthi and the Shukla Paksha one is Vinayaka Chaturthi. This vrat looks for Chaturthi at moonrise, so the date is decided by the tithi at moonrise, not the udaya tithi. How a tithi forms is explained in How to Read Today's Tithi. Karva Chauth is also a Krishna Chaturthi vrat, read about it here.
Sankashti Chaturthi Vrat Vidhi
- 1.Bathe in the morning and take the vrat sankalp while remembering Ganesha.
- 2.Eat fruit through the day or fast according to your capacity.
- 3.In the evening worship Ganesha's image. Offer red flowers, durva (doob grass), sindoor and modak or laddu.
- 4.Chant Om Gam Ganapataye Namah and sing the Ganesh aarti.
- 5.Hear the Sankashti Chaturthi vrat katha.
- 6.When the moon rises, see it, offer it an arghya of water and then break the fast.
Puja Items
An image of Ganesha, red flowers, durva, sindoor, modak or laddu, fruit, a lamp, incense and water for the arghya. Durva is regarded as especially dear to Ganesha.
Angarki Chaturthi
When Sankashti Chaturthi falls on Tuesday it is called Angarki Chaturthi, because Angaraka is a name of Mars. It is regarded as a Sankashti of special importance.
Sakat Chauth of Magha
The Krishna Chaturthi of Magha is well known in North India as Sakat Chauth and is counted among the main Sankashti Chaturthis of the year.
Keep in Mind
- Check the exact moonrise from your city's panchang. The today's tithi and panchang page gives the tithi timing.
- Keep the fast according to your health.
- For Ganesha's famous temples read Famous Ganesh Temples in India. For the call, see also Jai Shri Ganesh.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Sankashti Chaturthi fall?
On the Krishna Paksha Chaturthi of each month. The vrat looks for Chaturthi at moonrise.
When is the Sankashti Chaturthi fast broken?
After moonrise, once you have seen the moon and offered it an arghya of water.
What is Angarki Chaturthi?
When Sankashti Chaturthi falls on Tuesday it is called Angarki Chaturthi, because Angaraka is a name of Mars.
What is offered in Sankashti Chaturthi puja?
Red flowers, durva (doob grass), sindoor and modak or laddu are offered to Ganesha.