Sakat Chauth

Sakat Chauth

Sankata-haaraa Chaturthi in Paush Month will be observed as Sakat Chauth. 

Sankata-haaraa Chaturthi falls every month on the Chauth (fourth day) after Purnima (Full Moon day) means it is Krishna Paksh Chaturthi. 

Sankat means trouble, an Haaraa means to take it off. So by performing fast on this day all kinds of problems are removed. This is also called as Ganesh Chauth, Mahi Chauth or Tilkuta Chauth. 

On this day Lord Ganesha and and Moon is worshied. This Vrat is performed by a married women for a better future, body strength, good-fortune, and wealth for the children. It is believe in UP and MP that every Married women should do atleast 2 Chauth Fast. 

Method of Puja :  In the morning, after your daily cores, take bath, perform your morning prayers. Recite "Om Ganeshaaya Namah", "Om Vakratundaaya Hum". This is called Ganesh Ashtottar. During the fasting period, Water, Milk, Fruits and Tea are permitted. 

In the evening, like you do for any Vrat, make a Mandap and place a photo of Lord Ganesh. Decorate the photo of Lord Ganesh with available flowers. Offer Durva ( Doorva - grass (creeper)) with 3 or 5 nodes to the Lord Ganesh and keep some Doorva Grass aside to worship the Moon. 

Light Diyaa (lamp) and Agarbattee (incense stick) and Offer Til Ke Ladoo (seaseme seeds made with Jaggery and Seaseme seeds), Sweet Potato, Jaggery. This is known as Naivdya. Now in the end do the Aarti. Sing the song Jaya Ganesh, Jaya Ganesh, Jaya Ganesh Devaa... and ask for his blessings. After this the moon should be worshiped with Til (Seaseme Seeds) and Arghya (Offeringby milk and water mixture). 

Moon God and Rohini are also worshipped. At night, after the moonrise, the fast to be completed after offering the moon, the sacred water called "Arghya". It has a related legend which claims that it was the great sage Markandeya who advised a dethroned king to keep fast on this day to regain his lost glory. He did so and everything was well for him. 

Regarding Moon rise - sometimes due to the clouds etc, the Moon may not be visible at the specified time. In that case after the Moon rise timings one may perform the Puja.

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तिल के दस लड्डू बनाकर, पांच लड्डू देवता को चढ़ावे और शेष पांच ब्रह्मण को दान दे देवें। गुड मे बने तिल (सफेद) के लड्डूों को चंद्र दर्शन करायें और चंद्रमा को भी अर्घ्य प्रदान करें। क्योंकि इस दिन भगवान श्री गणेश जी चंद्रमा को अपने मस्तक पर धारण करतें हैं।