Sankashti Chaturthi 2023 – Month Wise Dates and Time

Sankashti Chaturthi is an auspicious festival celebrated in the honor of Lord Ganesha. Every lunar month marks two Chaturthi: One is Sankashti Chaturthi and the second is Vinayaka Chaturthi. Sankashti Chaturthi is the fourth day after full-moon day, also known as Poornamasi. The period is known as Krishna paksha. Vinayaka Chaturthi falls in shukla paksha, immediately after Amavasya or no-moon day.

Sankashti Chaturthi can fall on any day of the week but if it falls on Tuesday, it is considered highly auspicious. It is known as ‘Angarakhi Chaturthi.’ The day is the most auspicious among all the Sankashti Chaturthi.

The auspicious day is equally popular in both the Northern and Southern parts of the country, especially in Maharashtra. It is celebrated with devotion and grandeur. The term “Sankashti” literally means “deliverance during difficult times” and Chaturthi means the fourth day, the day of Lord Ganesha. It is believed that Lord Ganesha helps you overcome all the obstacles of life and you will be a winner in almost every situation of life.

Rituals of Sankashti Chaturthi

1. Because the day is considered auspicious, devotees get up early on this day and spend it worshipping the Lord Ganesha. A strict fast is observed in the honor of the deity. People observe fasts or partial fasts on this day and eat devour fruits, plants, and vegetables. The staple Indian diet also includes sabudana, peanuts, and potatoes.
2. The pooja of Sankashti chaturthi is done in the evening after the moon rises. The idol of the Lord is placed on Durva grass and is decorated with fresh flowers. A lamp is lit and people chant Vedic mantras. They read the Vrat Katha of the specific month and broke the fast after seeing the moon.
3. Modaks are the special naivedya for the day. The favorite food of Lord Ganesha is prepared to offer. It is Prashad that is distributed after the pooja.
4. A special pooja dedicated to the moon or Chandra Deva is also performed on the day of Sankashti Chaturthi. It involves sprinkling water, chandan, kesar, rice, and water in the direction of the moon.
5. It is considered auspicious to recite Ganesh ashtothra, sankatnashana sthotra, and Vakhratunda mahakaay. All the Vedic mantras dedicated to Lord Ganesha should be recited on this auspicious day.

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Significance of the Sankashti Chaturthi

It is considered significant to see the moon on this special day. The ardent devotees of Lord Ganesha believe praying to the deity with dedication will fulfill all their wishes, and they will lead a happy and prosperous life.

The day is considered equally important for childless couples. They observe this fast in order to seek blessings from God to have a child. God Ganesha is worshiped with lotus petals.

As the lunar month changes, the sankashti chaturthi also changes. Each Chaturthi of the lunar month is different from others and each has a different vrat katha.

The significance of Ganesh Chaturthi is mentioned in many great Hindu scriptures like “Bhavishya purana” and “Narsimha Purana”. It was also explained by Lord Krishna to Yushishtra, the elder one of all the Pandavas.

After every four years, there comes a year when 13 Sankashti chaturthi falls. The Katha for that lunar month is called adika.

Sankashti Chaturthi 2023 Dates and Time

The date and timings of the sankasthi chaturthi may change with the change in geographical location because the moon’s rise is observed at different times in different states.