Sankashti Chaturthi: Vrat Vidhi, Moonrise and Katha

Sankashti Chaturthi is kept for Lord Ganesha on the Chaturthi (4th tithi) of Krishna paksha, every month. Sankashti means "relief from trouble". Devotees fast all day and break the fast in the evening after seeing the Moon and worshipping Ganesha. It is very popular in Maharashtra and South India, and also in North India as Sakat Chauth.

Which day is kept

Because the fast is broken after moonrise, the vrat is kept on the day when Chaturthi is present at moonrise. This can differ from the date on which Chaturthi begins at sunrise. The moonrise time is the most important detail and differs for each city, so check our Sankashti list, and the moonrise time for your city on the daily panchang.

Special Sankashti days

• Angarki Sankashti: when Sankashti falls on a Tuesday (Angaraka is Mars). It is thought to be the most powerful, and its merit is said to equal all Sankashtis in a year.
• Sakat Chauth: The Sankashti of Magha is the biggest one in North India, kept by mothers for their children.
• Vinayaka Chaturthi: the Shukla paksha Chaturthi, a lighter Ganesha vrat.

Vrat vidhi

• Bathe in the morning, take a sankalp and keep a fast on fruit and water, or without food.
• Place Ganesha's image, offer durva grass (21 blades), red flowers, modak, laddoo and coconut.
• In the evening, chant "Om Gam Ganapataye Namah" and read the Sankashti katha.
• After moonrise, offer arghya (water, with milk and flowers) to the Moon, and then break the fast.

The story

One traditional story is of a potter whose kiln pots would not bake, and who was told that sacrificing a child would help. A poor old woman had only one son, and in great distress she prayed to Ganesha on Sankashti Chaturthi and told her son to chant his name as he was put near the kiln. By Ganesha's grace, the pots baked and the boy was found safe. The story is a reminder that remembering Ganesha in trouble brings help.