Monday, 29 January 2024

This festival is celebrated on the Chaturthi of Magha Krishna paksha. Chaturthi should be Chandrodaya Kalik. This festival is also known as Sakat Chauth, Tilakuta Chauth, Sankat Chauth, Maghi Chaturthi, Sankashti Chaturthi.

Each lunar month in Hindu calendar has two Chaturthi Tithis. The one after Poornima during Krishna Paksha is known as Sankashti Chaturthi and the one after Amavasya during Shukla Paksha is known as Vinayaka Chaturthi. Although Sankashti Chaturthi fasting is done every month but the most significant Sankashti Chaturthi falls in month of Magha. It is also called Sakat Chauth. Sakat Chauth is dedicated to Goddess Sakat and women observe fasting on this day for the long life and good health and well-being of their sons.

On this day fasting from sunrise to moonrise is observed. Fast is completed after offering Arghya to the moon at night. On this day a body of jaggery and sesame is made and donated as a mountain. By making an idol of cow from jaggery, which is called Gud-Dhenu. After worshiping the moon and Ganesh in the night, the next day it should be donated in the form of prasad. Tilkoot and Seasonal items like sweet potatoes are also offered to the deity. The sight of the moon on the Chaturthi of the Krishna Paksha of Magha month gives the virtue of seeing Ganesha.

Sakat Chauth (1950 to 2050)