Sankashti Chaturthi Puja

Sankashti Chaturthi Puja: vidhi, samagri and what to expect

Sankashti Chaturthi Puja (संकष्टी चतुर्थी पूजा; Sanskrit: सङ्कष्टहरचतुर्थीपूजनम्) is a Ganesha vrat puja observed on the Krishna Chaturthi. The fast is broken at moonrise, and the puja itself is a Ganesh puja. It belongs to the category of vrat puja and udyapan. A typical performance takes about 45 minutes. There is no havan. It can be done online, with a family member carrying out the physical steps at home.

Significance and when it is done

Sankashti Chaturthi is kept on the Krishna Chaturthi, and the vrat is broken at moonrise. The puja is directed to Ganesha. Within the wider calendar of vrats, this one sits in the group of vrat puja and udyapan, alongside other observances that combine a fast with a formal worship and, often, a concluding udyapan. The word sankashti carries the sense of relief from difficulty, which is why the observance is associated with turning to Ganesha for support. The page does not fix a muhurat; dates and timings are shown separately from data.

Who performs it and who should attend

A pandit performs the puja. The vrat is usually kept by one or more members of the household, and the family attends the worship. Attendance is not restricted by age in any rule stated here; households decide who joins based on their own custom and convenience. If the puja is arranged online, the pandit performs it by video call while a family member does the physical steps at home, so someone should be present to handle the samagri, the diya and the moon arghya.

Vidhi step by step (outline)

What follows is an outline. The exact sequence, mantras and length vary by region and by family tradition, and a pandit will adapt the order to the household.

• Sankalp and invitation to Ganesha, with the family stating the purpose of the vrat.
• Setting up the kalash and the puja space, with water and Ganga jal.
• Ganesha puja with roli (kumkum), haldi, akshat, flowers and garland.
• Offering durva, modak and til laddoo, along with fruits and sweets for naivedya.
• Lighting the diya and camphor, and offering incense sticks.
• Moli and supari, paan leaves and coconut as part of the offering.
• Concluding with the moon arghya at moonrise, when the fast is broken.

Because the fast is broken at moonrise, the arghya is the point the household waits for. The rest of the puja is arranged so that it is complete by then.

Preparing the samagri and the space

The samagri list for Sankashti Chaturthi Puja is:

• Roli (kumkum)
• Haldi
• Akshat (unbroken rice)
• Moli (sacred thread)
• Supari
• Paan leaves
• Coconut
• Ghee
• Diya and cotton wicks
• Camphor
• Incense sticks
• Flowers and garland
• Fruits
• Sweets for naivedya
• Ganga jal
• Kalash
• Durva
• Modak
• Til laddoo
• Water for moon arghya

Keep the space clean and uncluttered, with room for the kalash and a stable place for the diya. Set aside the water for the moon arghya separately so it is ready at moonrise. If the puja is online, arrange the samagri in front of the camera so the pandit can guide each step.

Regional variations

Traditions differ. North and South Indian households may differ in the order of offerings, in the mantras used, and in what is prepared for naivedya. Smarta and Vaishnava practice can also differ in emphasis. Amanta and purnimanta reckoning affect how the Chaturthi is placed in the month. Rather than picking one, it is best to follow the convention of your family or the pandit you have engaged.

After the puja: prasad, daan, dos and don'ts

Prasad is shared after the puja, and the fast is broken at moonrise. Daan, where a family chooses to give it, follows the household's own practice. Keep the offerings and the space clean, and treat the prasad with respect. Do not rush the moon arghya; wait for moonrise as the vrat requires. If a personal chart question arises, consult a qualified jyotishi rather than reading outcomes into the puja itself.