Sakat Chauth 2024: Date, Muhurat, Story, Puja & Vrat Vidhi

What is Sakat Chauth?

Sankashti Chaturthi is an occasion which is associated with Lord Ganesha and is celebrated on the ‘Chaturthi Tithi’ (4th Date) of the ‘Krishna Paksha’ (Waning Phase of the Moon) every month as per the Hindu Lunar Calendar. There are a total of 12 Sankashti Chaturthis in a year and the one which comes in the month of Magh is known as “Sakat Chauth”. As per the Gregorian calendar, Sakat Chauth comes in the month of January.

Mothers on this day observe a ‘Nirjala Vrat’ which is a fast wherein they do not even consume water and after Sunset offer ‘Arghya’ to ‘Chandran Dev’ (the Moon God). After this, the mothers worship Lord Ganesha and offer ‘Bhog’ to Him and seek His blessings for the safe & prosperous life of their children.

Also Read in Hindi: Sakat Chauth 2024 Date: कब है सकट चौथ? जानें तारीख, मुहूर्त, और पूजा विधि

Sakat Chauth 2024: Date and Muhurat

The occasion of Sakat Chauth 2024 in January will be celebrated on Monday, 29th January, 2024. As per the Hindu Panchang, the Chaturthi Tithi will begin from 6:10 AM on 29th January.

The vrat or fast of Sakat Chauth is observed to get the blessings of Lord Ganesha who is the son of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. This vrat is completed at Moonrise which on 29th January 2024, will be at 09:11 PM. Thererfore, the vrat completion as well as pujan muhurat for this month’s Sakat Chauth will be at 09:11 PM.

Note: This Muhurat time is for Delhi. If you belong to any other region, then do check the timings accordingly.

Following is the complete table with month & date wise details of all Sankashti Chaturthi 2024:

The Story Associated with Sakat Chauth/Sankashti Chaturthi

Once when Lord Shiva was away to some place, Goddess Parvati decided to go for a bath in a cave on Kailash. Since there was no one else on Kailash, She took off some of the sandalwood past off Her arms and made a figure of a little boy out of that and infused life into that figure, which resulted in an actual little boy coming to life. She told the little boy to stand guard on the door of the cave and not let anyone inside till She comes outside after Her bath.

The little boy, as per the instruction of his mother, stood at the entrance of the cave as a guard. Soon, Lord Shiva arrived in Kailash and reached that cave in search of His wife (Goddess Parvati). The boy stopped Lord Shiva and told Him that nobody can enter the cave until his mother comes out. Lord Shiva took this as arrogance and told the little boy to move aside but the boy refused.

Lord Shiva asked His ‘Ganas’ (beings who reside on Kailash and serve Lord Shiva) to teach the boy a lesson. Soon a fight took place and the little boy defeated all the Ganas. Lord Shiva asked the Gods to do the same but even the Gods could not defeat that boy. In the end, Lord Shiva got so furious that He used His divine ‘Trishul’ (Trident) and severed the little boy’s head in a single blow.

Hearing the sudden & loud cry of Her little boy before he died, Goddess Parvati came out of the cave, only to find Her son lying on the ground dead with his head cut off. This enraged Goddess Parvati and She took on Her most force form and warned Lord Shiva to either bring Her son back to life or else She will end the entire Creation. Everyone, including Lord Shiva apologized & pleaded to Goddess Parvati to calm down but She did not listen to them and prepared for destroying the Creation.

It is then Lord Shiva told Her that since the head of Her little boy got severed by His Trishul, it is not possible to fix that head again on the boy’s body as destruction caused by His Trishul cannot be undone. Therefore, He needs someone else's head that would be fixed on to Her boy’s body and then the boy could be brought back to life.

Lord Shiva ordered His Ganas to go immediately and fetch the head of a baby who has died recently. The Ganas searched everywhere but could not find any head that fits the description of the command. Suddenly, they saw a female elephant crying next to her dead baby’s body who died recently. The Ganas relayed the divine request from Lord Shiva to the mother elephant and took the head of her baby. The Ganas quickly reached back to Kailash with the baby elephant’s head.

Goddess Parvati expressed Her displeasure on the idea of fixing a baby elephant’s head on the body of Her son but Lord Shiva requested Her approval for this as time was running out. She refused saying that everyone would make fun of Her son if he had an elephant’s head. To this, Lord Shiva along with all other Gods declared that it will be mandatory to worship Her boy before beginning any new and or auspicious task and without worshipping Her son first, no pious or auspicious task would not be successful.

Goddess Parvati agreed and Lord Shiva attached the baby elephant’s head on to the body of the boy and infused life thereby, bringing the little boy back to life. Lord Shiva deeply regretted attacking that little boy and became a loving father to the boy thereafter.

That little boy was named Ganesh and since then mothers observe a fast on Sakat Chauth or Sankashti Chaturthi which is associated with Lord Ganesh to seek His blessings as well as the blessings of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva for a safe & bright future for their children.

Significance of Sakat Chauth Puja & Vrat

Sakat Chauth is also known as Ganesh Chauth or Vinayak Chauth due to being associated with Lord Ganesha. The vrat or fast of Sakat Chauth is observed by mothers for the well-being and a prosperous future of their children. The pious karmic rewards of this vrat ensures the safety of children as well as promotes success & prosperity in their lives by dispelling obstacles.

With the effects of this vrat, the life of your child becomes smooth and brings a positive transformation. This vrat wards off problems and stress from life. It is believed that once the mothers get the blessings of Lord Ganesha who is also known as ‘Vighnaharta’, the lives of their children become free of hurdles.

In many places, this vrat is also observed by women who wish for a child.

BooK Online Ganesh Chaturthi Puja

Sakat Chauth Puja & Vrat Vidhi

Following is the Sakat Chauth Puja & Vrat Vidhi (procedure) that is recommended for this occasion:

• Wake up before Sunrise on the day of the vrat (fast).
• Wear clean clothes after taking a bath.
• Take on the resolution or ‘sankalp’ of the Sakat Chauth Vrat before the idol or picture of Lord Ganesha.
• Worship Lord Ganesha with a devout heart by using incense, ghee or oil lamp and offer flowers.
• Offer Paan, Supari and Laddoo or Modak to Lord Ganesha.
• Perform Lord Ganesh’s ‘aarti’ and request His blessings for the well-being of your children.
• Worship Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva and seek Their blessings as well.
• During the course of the day, chant the mantra associated with Lord Ganesha.
• At the Sunset, light a ghee or oil lamp in front of the idol or picture of Lord Ganesha and place a Kalash or pot of water.
• Offer sweets to Lord Ganesha and complete the puja with the aarti.
• Seek Lord Ganesha’s blessings for a safe & bright future for your children. 
• At Moonrise, offer incense to ‘Chandra Dev’, light a lamp for Him and perform His aarti.
• Now offer ‘Arghya’ to Chandra Dev with the water from the Kalash and seek His blessings for the well-being of your children.
• Listen to or read the Sakat Chauth Vrat ‘Katha’ (story).
• Distribute the ‘Prasad’ among the family members and have it yourself as well.

Note: If ‘Nirjala Vrat’ or fasting without water is not feasible then, one can have some sweet fruits in the afternoon. Do not consume any salt.

Conclusion

Sankanshti Chaturthi or Sakat Chauth Vrat is famous by many names and is observed by mothers for seeking divine blessing for the well-being of their children. Lord Ganesha and His parents Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva are woshipped for seeking their blessings .The blessings of Chandra Dev are also sought and His worship is also part of the puja & vrat.

FAQs

What is the purpose of observing the vrat or fast of Sakat Chauth?

The vrat of Sakat Chauth or Sankashti Chaturthi is observed for the safety and wellbeing of children by their mothers.

When is Sakat Chauth in 2024?

Sakat Chauth or Sankashti Chaturthi in January 2024 is on the 29th.