Sakat Chauth: Date, Time, Puja Rituals, Story and Significance

Sakat Chauth 2023: Sakat Chauth is an important festival celebrated by Hindu women in North India. It is a day dedicated to the well-being of their children. On this day, women observe fasts and perform pujas to seek blessings from God for their families. This festival guide provides information about the date, time, and puja rituals associated with Sakat Chauth, as well as the story behind this festival and its significance.

About Sakat Chauth Hindu Festival

Sakat Chauth occurs on Sankashti Chaturthi or Sankatahara Chaturthi during the Hindu calendar month of Magh (January-February) on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha (waning Moon phase). Chaturthi is the fourth day after each month’s Poornima (full Moon) and is an auspicious day devoted to the worship of Lord Ganesha or Vignaharta. On Sankashti Chaturthi, a vrat (fast) is observed beginning in the morning and is broken only after moonrise, after observing the Moon. Observing a vrat (fast) and worshipping Lord Ganesh on this day is extremely respected, as it bestows blessings of money, prosperity, and success and removes all obstacles from one’s life. On the festival of Sakat Chauth, the goddess Sakat or Sakat Mata is venerated. On this day, ladies observe the Sakat Chauth ka vrat and pray to Sakat Mata for the safety and well-being of their children.

Sakat Chauth is known as Sankat Chauth, Til-Kuta Chauth, Maghi Chauth, and Vakratundi Chaturthi throughout India. The Sakat Chauth Vrat Katha must be heard or recited before breaking the Sakat Chauth fast. Sakat Chauth or Sankat Chauth is widely celebrated in the northern parts of India.

The Sankashti Chaturthi that occurs on a Tuesday is known as Angarika Sankashti Chaturthi and is considered particularly auspicious. By the blessing of the kind Lord Ganesh, it is believed that worshipping Lord Ganesh and observing a vrat on this day by following the vrat vidhi with sincerity removes all kinds of difficulties and barriers from the devotee’s life and grants their wishes.

In the Krishna Paksha of Magh 2023, Sankatahara Chaturthi or Sankashti Chaturthi falls on a Tuesday, making it an Angarika Sankashti Chaturthi.

Sakat Chauth 2023: Sakat Chauth Date and Sakat Chauth Timing

• Sakat Chauth date 2023 – 10 January, Tuesday
• Chaturthi Tithi Start Time – 12:09 PM on 10 January 2023
• Chaturthi Tithi End Time – 02:31 PM on 11 January 2023
• Moonrise time on Sakat Chauth – 09:13 PM on 10 January 2023

Sakat Chauth Story (Vrat Katha)

First Story

According to Hindu mythology, it is claimed that Lord Ganesha emerged from his greatest sakat (crisis) on this day. Because of this, it is known as Sakat Chauth. Once, mother Parvati went to take a bath and instructed Ganesha to stand outside so no one could enter. When Lord Shiva arrived, Ganapati prevented him from entering as well.

Lord Shiva became enraged and severed Ganesha’s head with his Trishul. Upon seeing her kid’s plight, Parvati’s mother began to cry and demanded that her husband restore her son to life. When Mother Parvati made numerous petitions to Shiva, Lord Ganesha was granted a second life and given the head of an elephant; he was then given the name Gajanan.

Lord Ganapati gained the position of being the first deity worshipped in any puja on that day. Lord Ganesha is believed to have gotten the blessings of 33 Koti deities and devas on the day of Sakat Chauth. Since then, this date has become synonymous with the adoration of Ganapati. On this day, it is stated that Ganapati never lets anyone go empty-handed.

Second Story

A blind older woman once resided with her son and daughter-in-law in a village. She was a devoted devotee of the God Ganapati. One day, Ganesha appeared in front of her and requested a desire. The lord, observing her confusion, advised her to seek advice from her son and his wife. While the son suggested she request fortune, his wife suggested a grandson.

The older woman also consulted her neighbors, who advised her to request eyesight. The woman finally asks God for all three: wealth, a grandchild, and her sight, and she receives them all.

Third Story

In a different tale, a potter in a village made beautiful clay pots and fired them in a kiln. When the potter stored vessels in the kiln for one year, the fire could not ripen the vessels. A despondent potter addressed the monarch, who consulted the Rajpurohit, who proposed sacrificing a kid every time a kiln is prepared for cooking utensils.

Each family was required to offer a sacrifice. After a few days, it was the turn of an older woman with a single son. It was Sakat Chauth day. According to Drik Panchang, the elderly devotee of Goddess Sakat handed her only son Betal nut of Sakat and “Dub Ka Beeda” as a protective talisman. The older woman instructed her son to pray to the goddess Sakat while in the kiln, and she followed suit. Due to the favor of the goddess Sakat, the kiln, which would have required many days to mature, was prepared in a single night. The potter was astounded to discover the following day that the older woman’s son and the other children who had been sacrificed to prepare the kiln were still alive.

The day of Sakat Chauth also remembers the goddess Sakat’s appreciation. Mothers worship her beside Lord Ganesha and pray for the safety of their children. People began to believe in the compassion and might of Goddess Sakat.

Importance of Sakat Chauth

Two gods are honored on Sakat Chauth. It is significant for moms who worship Sakat Mata and pray for their children’s health and longevity. It is also an important date for Lord Ganesha’s worshippers, who conduct a day-long fast in his honor and pray for a trouble-free life.

Rituals followed on Sakat Chauth

1. On this day, devotees observe a partial or full day-long fast. Peanuts, potatoes, and sabudana khichdi are specifically cooked to commemorate today’s fast. They consume nothing other than fruits, vegetables, and roots throughout the day. The day’s fast is only broken once the main puja has been performed.
2.  The day’s most important puja is performed in the evening when the Moon is visible. Lord Ganesha’s statue is adored with Durva grass, fresh flowers, and incense sticks. Devotees light lamps and read the “vrat Katha” for the month in which the Chaturthi falls. This day’s rites conclude with the viewing of the Moon.
3.  During the puja, special sweets or naivedya, including modaks, are offered to the deity. As prasad, these delicacies are distributed after the Katha and aarti.
4.  On Sankashti Chaturthi, the Moon is worshipped in addition to Lord Ganesha. Moon-facing offerings consist of water, Chandan or sandalwood paste, rice, and flowers.
5.  On this day, reciting Vedic hymns or mantras dedicated to Lord Ganesha brings blessings. On Sankashti Chaturthi, devotees chant the Ganesha Ashtothra, Sankashtnashana sthothra, and Vakrathunda Mahakaya.

4 Things to Do on Sakat Chauth

1. In addition to worshipping Lord Ganesha on this day, devotees must also donate ghee and jaggery. After the Paran ceremony, it will be consumed as prasad and distributed to the entire family.
2.  The mantras of Shri Ganesh must be chanted if one exerts great effort yet does not obtain the desired result. Similarly, “Om Gan Ganapataya Namah” must be recited eleven times, and flowers must be offered beside each mantra. After this, sesame and jaggery laddoos should be presented.
3.  If you are anxious about something, you must construct a swastika using turmeric and a betel leaf. Then, present this leaf to Lord Ganesha and beseech him to remove all difficulties.
4.  During the fast, take makhana kheer, til Koot, til laddoo, or satvik cuisine like sabzi-poor kuttu pakodi.

Sakat Chauth Puja Vidhi

• After taking a bath, one should rise early in the morning and worship Lord Ganesha while reciting the Ganesha Ashtottara.
•  Construct a tiny mound of mud and tilled soil (sesame seeds).
•  Purify the place of worship and create an alpana (colorful motif).
•  Place a wooden platform on the ground and cover it with a clean, fresh cloth.
•  On one side, install a lamp, and on the other, a Kalash (metallic urn)
•  Lord Ganesha and the mound formed of til and mud must be presented with all Puja items (til, dhoop, flowers, kumkum, moli, roli, and incense stick).
•  Offer the deity five til ladoos, dry fruits, gur, or jaggery.
•  All day long, the worshippers must observe their fast.
•  When the Moon rises, worshippers offer the Moon water with arghya.
•  Worship the Moon God to ensure the well-being and prosperity of the family and children.
•  Hindu ladies must seek their blessings by touching the feet of their elders.
•  By consuming til-based desserts, the fast can be broken.

Sakat Chauth Mantra

• ॐ गम गणपतये नमः
• ॐ एकदन्ताय विद्महे। वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि। तन्नो दन्ती: प्रचोदयात|

Benefits of Sakat Chauth

• It counteracts the negative effects of mercury.
• It provides the road to success, money, and prosperity in life.
• It promotes the health of youngsters.
• It eliminates life’s difficulties and hurdles.

Quick FAQ – Sakat Chauth