The word ‘Sankashti’ has a Sanskrit origin that means ‘deliverance during difficult times’ whereas ‘Chaturthi’ means ‘fourth day or the day of Lord Ganesha’. Therefore, on Sankashti 2019 devotees worship Lord Ganesha to help overcome all the obstacles in life and come out victorious in every tough situation. Furthermore, when Sankashti Chaturthi 2019 falls on a Tuesday, it is popular as Angarki Chaturthi and is considered to be the most auspicious of all the Sankashti Chaturthi days.
Significance of Sankashta Chaturthi
Sankashti Chaturthi 2019 is celebrated in the month of Bhadrapada of Hindu calendar on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha (dark lunar phase or the waning phase). Sankashti Chaturthi is widely worshipped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune and traditionally invoked at the beginning of any new venture or at the start of travel. There are different forms of Lord Ganpati and it is highly believed that Vighnaraj Maha Ganapati bestows his presence on earth for all his devotees during this auspicious festival.
What does Sankashta Chaturthi symbolize?
Sankashti means freedom during troubled times, hence observing this fast is believed to reduce your problems as Lord Ganesha symbolizes the remover of all obstacles and supreme lord of intelligence. Sankashti Chaturthi 2019 is an auspicious day dedicated to Lord Ganesha. If Sankashti Chaturthi falls on a Tuesday it is called Angarki Sankashti Chaturthi. Angarki Sankashti Chaturthi is considered highly auspicious among all the days of Sankashti Chaturthi festival. The Angarki Chaturthi where (angarak in Sanskrit means red like burning coal ambers). Devotees believe that their wishes can be fulfilled if they pray on this auspicious day.
The story behind Sankashta Chaturthi
There is a traditional story related to the efficacy of Sankashti Chaturthi. Lord Ganesha is the son of Maa Parvati and Shiva. Maa Parvati created Ganesha out of sandalwood paste that she used for her bath and breathed life into the figure. Then, she set him to stand guard at her door while she bathed. Lord Shiva returned and, as Ganesha didn't know him, so he didn't allow him to enter. Lord Shiva became enraged and asked his followers, gods to teach the child some manners.
After the Devas were defeated, the trinity, controller, preserver and the destroyer of the universe launched an attack against Ganesha. Amidst the fighting, Shiva severed the head of the child. And brought on Parvathi's rage. Seeing her son dead, Maa Parvati revealed her true self, as the Adi-shakti, the prime energy that fuels the universe and sustains matter. Taking on a terrible form, she vowed to destroy the universe where her son was killed and re-create a better one.
The trinity hunted the world for the head and came across a mother elephant crying for her dead baby. They encouraged the mother and fixed the head of the baby elephant in place of Ganesha's head. Lord Shiva has also declared that from this day, the boy would be called "Ganesha" (Gana-Isha: lord of the Ganas). Thus, it is said that merits obtained from observing Sankashti Chaturthi are enormous.
Sankashti Chaturthi 2019 dates and time
January 24th - Jan 23, 11:59 PM - Jan 24, 8:53 PM
February 22nd - Feb 22, 10:50 AM - Feb 23, 8:11 AM
March 24th - Mar 23, 10:32 PM - Mar 24, 8:51 PM
April 22nd - Apr 22, 11:25 AM - Apr 23, 11:04 AM
May 22nd - May 22, 1:40 AM - May 23, 2:41 AM
June 20th - Jun 20, 5:08 PM - Jun 21, 7:08 PM
July 20th - Jul 20, 9:13 AM - Jul 21, 11:39 AM
August 19th - Aug 19, 1:13 AM - Aug 20, 3:30 AM
September 17th- Sep 17, 4:32 PM - Sep 18, 6:11 PM
October 17th - Oct 17, 6:48 AM - Oct 18, 7:28 AM
November 15th - Nov 15, 7:45 PM - Nov 16, 7:15 PM
December 15th - Dec 15, 7:18 AM - Dec 16, 5:34 AM
How to Celebrate Sankashti Chaturthi
Bhadrapada Sankashta Chaturthi is celebrated in the month of Bhadrapada of Hindu calendar on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha (dark lunar phase or the waning phase). On this day, the devotees observe strict fast. They have to break the fast at night after having darshan/auspicious sight of the moon preceded by prayers to Lord Ganesha. Before midnight the Ganapati Atharvashesha is recited to summon the blessings of Lord Ganesha. During each month, Lord Ganesha is worshipped with different names and (Lotus petals).
On the Chaturthi day (4th day after full moon) of each month, the 'Sankashti Ganapathi Pooja' prayer is performed. Each and every ‘Vratha’ (strict fast) has a purpose and is explained to us by a story known as the ‘Vratha Katha’. This prayer offering has 13 Vratha Kathas, one for each month and the 13th story is for 'athika' (The Hindu calendar has one extra month every 4 years).
Sankashti Ganesh Chaturthi Vrat
There is a total of 13 Vrats, with each Vrat having a specific purpose and story, known as ‘Vrat Katha’. Therefore there are 13 ‘Vrat Katha’ in total, one for every month and the last Katha is for ‘adika’ that is the one extra month that comes every four years in the Hindu calendar. On the day of Sankashti Chaturthi festival, devotees get up early and dedicate the day worshipping Lord Ganesha. They observe a strict fast in the honor of their deity. Some devotees also keep a partial fast. The observer of this fast can only have fruits, vegetables, and roots of plants. The staple Indian diet on this day comprises of peanuts, potatoes and sabudana khichadi. This year Sankashti Chaturthi 2019 timings are Aug 19, 1:13 AM - Aug 20, 3:30 AM.
It is believed that the Vrat observed on this day can eradicate all the obstacles from the native’s life in order to live a happy and peaceful life ahead.