Sankashti Chaturthi Vrat: vidhi, katha and rules
Lord Ganesha · Krishna paksha Chaturthi, every month
Sankashti Chaturthi is devoted to Lord Ganesha and falls every month on the Chaturthi of Krishna paksha, after the full moon. People fast through the day and open the fast at night, after seeing the moon and offering arghya. Many keep it with a sankalp of 12 or 21 times.
🗓 Coming dates (Delhi)
- Friday, 27 November 2026
- Saturday, 26 December 2026
- Monday, 25 January 2027
- Wednesday, 24 February 2027
- Thursday, 25 March 2027
- Saturday, 24 April 2027
- Sunday, 23 May 2027
- Tuesday, 22 June 2027
Next Shukla paksha begins around Tuesday, 10 November
How it is kept (vidhi)
- Bathe in the morning and take the sankalp before Ganesha.
- Offer Ganesha durva grass, red flowers, vermilion and modak or laddoos.
- Recite the Ganesh Atharvashirsha or chant Om Gam Ganapataye Namah.
- In the evening, listen to the Sankashti katha and do the aarti.
- After moonrise, offer arghya to the moon with water, milk and rice.
- After the arghya, take the prasad and open the fast.
Common practices
- Many people take fruit through the day, and some fast without water.
- The fast is opened only after seeing the moon and offering arghya.
- If clouds hide the moon, many families offer arghya towards it at the moonrise time given in the panchang.
The katha
One evening, after a grand feast, Ganesha was riding home on his little mouse. On the way, the mouse was startled by a snake and stumbled, and Ganesha tumbled to the ground. His laddoos rolled everywhere. The moon, watching from the sky, laughed loudly at the sight.
Ganesha looked up and told the moon that pride in one's own beauty does not suit anyone. For a while after that, the moon's light grew faint, and the moon felt alone and ashamed. The gods asked the moon to make peace with Ganesha.
The moon went to Ganesha with a humble heart, said sorry and worshipped him. Ganesha forgave him at once. He said that on the Chaturthi of Krishna paksha, people would worship Ganesha through the day and offer arghya to the moon at night. That way, both would be remembered together.
This is why, on Sankashti Chaturthi, many people fast through the day and open the fast only after seeing the moon and offering arghya.
Retold in our own words from the traditional story.
Udyapan
After 12 or 21 Sankashtis, many families do the udyapan, often on Sakat Chauth in Magh or on an Angaraki Chaturthi. A Ganesh puja, a havan, a bhog of modaks, and food and daan for a Brahmin or someone in need are common.
Questions
- When is the Sankashti fast opened?
- At night, after moonrise and offering arghya to the moon. Moonrise time changes by city, so check your local panchang.
- How many Sankashtis are kept?
- Many people take a sankalp of 12 or 21. Some keep it every month. Family customs differ.
- What is Angaraki Chaturthi?
- When Sankashti Chaturthi falls on a Tuesday, it is called Angaraki Chaturthi. Many people see it as special.
This information is awaiting review by a pandit. Traditions differ by family and region.