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ASTROYANA

Krishna Chaturthi (4th of the dark fortnight)

Sankashti Chaturthi

Also known as Sankatahara Chaturthi

Sankashti Chaturthi is the monthly vrat to Ganesha, kept on the fourth day of the waning Moon. “Sankashti” means deliverance from difficulty: Ganesha is invoked as the remover of obstacles, and the fast is broken only after sighting the Moon.

Sankashti Chaturthi dates in 2026

Computed for Ujjain on the sunrise-prevailing tithi (the Smarta convention); a regional day can shift by one.

Krishna Chaturthi

The Moon on every Sankashti Chaturthi — Krishna Chaturthi (4th of the dark fortnight).

  • Sankashti ChaturthiThu 5 Feb
    VratKrishna paksha · Magha
  • Sankashti ChaturthiSat 7 Mar
    VratKrishna paksha · Phalguna
  • Sankashti ChaturthiMon 6 Apr
    VratKrishna paksha · Chaitra
  • Sankashti ChaturthiTue 5 May
    VratKrishna paksha · Vaishakha
  • Sankashti ChaturthiWed 6 May
    VratKrishna paksha · Vaishakha
  • Sankashti ChaturthiThu 4 Jun
    VratKrishna paksha · Jyeshtha
  • Sankashti ChaturthiSat 4 Jul
    VratKrishna paksha · Jyeshtha
  • Sankashti ChaturthiSun 2 Aug
    VratKrishna paksha · Ashadha
  • Sankashti ChaturthiTue 1 Sep
    VratKrishna paksha · Shravana
  • Sankashti ChaturthiWed 30 Sep
    VratKrishna paksha · Bhadrapada
  • Sankashti ChaturthiThu 29 Oct
    VratKrishna paksha · Ashwina
  • Sankashti ChaturthiSun 27 Dec
    VratKrishna paksha · Margashirsha

Significance

Ganesha, lord of beginnings and remover of obstacles, is petitioned each month for the easing of troubles. The Sankashti in Magha is held to be the most powerful, especially when it falls on a Tuesday and is called Angarki.

How Sankashti Chaturthi is kept

Devotees fast through the day, worship Ganesha with durva grass and modaks, and break the fast at night after offering arghya to the risen Moon.

FAQ

Why is the Moon important to this vrat?

The Sankashti fast is broken only after the Moon is sighted and offered arghya at night.

What is Angarki Sankashti?

A Sankashti Chaturthi falling on a Tuesday (Angaraka = Mars); it is considered especially potent.

How is it different from Vinayaka Chaturthi?

Sankashti falls in the dark fortnight (Krishna Chaturthi); Vinayaka Chaturthi is its bright-fortnight counterpart.

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