Sakat Chauth is also called Ganesh Chauth or Tilkuta Chauth. Lord Ganesha and the Moon God are worshiped on Sakat Chauth. This vrat is mainly observed in North India and this day is celebrated as Tilkut Chauth.
A full-day fast is observed on this day. It is believed that fasting on Sakat Chauth removes all obstacles from life and Ganesha blesses his devotees with health, fortune, and good children.
Sakat Chauth Vrat Method
On this day, married women who are observing the fast wake up early and take a bath, after which they wear new clothes, clean up the place of worship, and chant the “Om Ganeshaaya Namah" mantra 108 times. During the day devotees observe a fast. However, milk, tea, and fruits are allowed.In the evening a Mandap is decorated in which Ganesha idol is placed. The idol is decorated with flowers and Doorva (grass) and desserts prepared with sesame seeds (til) and jaggery are offered to Ganesha. These special sweets are called “Naivaidya”. At the end of this puja, the Ganesha aarti is sung. Some people keep the Prasad of this puja in front of the Ganesha idol all night and share it with family members the next morning.
The Moon god is also worshiped on this day. At night, after the moonrise, Arghya is given to the moon and after hearing the Sakat Chauth Katha, the fast is broken. If the moon is not visible due to rain and clouds, the puja is performed according to the moon's rise time.
Tilkut is a traditional Indian sweet made with sesame seeds and jaggery. After offering some tilkut and modak to Ganesha, devotees distribute it as prasad (holy offering) to their friends and family members.
Married women pray for the health, wealth, and well-being of their children. Fasting on Sakat Chauth is considered very auspicious. Mothers observe fast on this day so the hurdles from the life of their kids are removed.
Significance of Tilkut on Sakat Chauth
Sesame seeds are a great source of many valuable elements such as protein, calcium, phosphorous and magnesium. The black sesame seeds are very beneficial as well and jaggery is a great source of iron and calcium. The mixture of both produces body heat, increases our immunity, and prevents us from the bad effects of the cold climate.Similarly, Doorva (grass) is also considered good for the detoxification of the body. A healthy mind resides in a healthy body. With a healthy mind, one can overcome all the hurdles and obstacles in life. This is the real meaning of offering Tilkut and Doorva to Lord Ganesha.
Legend of Sakat Chauth
According to the belief, there was a family in which 2 brothers and their wives lived together. The elder one was rich and the younger one was poor. The elder brother’s wife was greedy and very cruel, but the wife of the younger brother was a devotee of Ganesha. On the day of Sakat Chauth, she performed puja but she had nothing to offer to Ganesha, so she asked the elder brother’s wife for some food, but that cruel lady insulted her and didn’t give her anything. The younger wife was very sad and tired so she went to sleep.At night Lord Ganesha visited her home and blessed her with a lot of gold and diamond jewellery. When the greedy wife of the rich brother saw this, she also repeated the same procedure and invited Ganesha. But the angry Ganesha did not please and cursed her lot. The greedy lady realized her mistake, she could gain good fortune only after worshiping Ganesha with full devotion to Sakat Chauth.
Key Aspects of Sakat Chauth:
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Devotion to Lord Ganesha: Devotees worship Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, on this day. They pray for the removal of troubles and for success in their endeavors.
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Fasting: Observing a fast is an integral part of Sakat Chauth. Devotees abstain from food and water (nirjala fast) from sunrise until they sight the moon in the evening and offer their prayers.
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Rituals:
- Early Morning Bath: Devotees take a ritualistic bath early in the morning.
- Offering to Ganesha: Idols or images of Lord Ganesha are worshipped with offerings like durva grass, fresh flowers, modaks, and laddus.
- Chanting and Prayers: Devotees chant Ganesha mantras and recite stories related to the significance of Sankashti Chaturthi.
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Moon Worship: After sighting the moon, devotees break their fast by offering water and prasad to the moon and then to Lord Ganesha.
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Significance of Angarki Chaturthi: When Sankashti Chaturthi falls on a Tuesday, it is considered highly auspicious and powerful. Devotees believe that observing the fast on Angarki Chaturthi yields the highest benefits.
Mythological Background:
The festival is rooted in several myths and legends. One such popular legend is about Goddess Parvati creating Ganesha from the dirt of her body and how Ganesha later became known as the remover of obstacles.
Regional Observations:
Sakat Chauth is celebrated with varying rituals and intensity across different regions in India. It is particularly significant in states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
Ever since then, people started worshiping Lord Ganesha on Sakat Chauth to get blessings from him.
इस आर्टिकल को हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें