Sankashti Chaturthi or Sankatahara Chaturthi festival is celebrated in reverence of Lord Ganesha. On this day, his devotees pray for overcoming all hurdles in their lives and succeeding in difficult circumstances.
This festival is observed every month on the fourth day known as Chaturthi of the Krishna Paksha, or the dark fortnight phase of the Hindu calendar. This festival is known as “Sankat Hara Chaturthi” in Tamil Nadu. The biggest Sankashti Chaturthi is known as “Angaraki Chaturthi”, and it occurs on a Tuesday.
When is Sankashi Chaturthi Celebrated?
As per the Hindu calendar, there are two dates of the month that are determined to be Chaturthi. Sankashti Chaturthi falls after the full moon in the waning phase of the moon, and Vinayaka Chaturthi occurs after the new moon phase, which signifies the beginning of the waxing phase. This festival is observed both in the north and the south of the country. The meaning of the word Sankashti is “Freeing from hardship.”
There are a total of 13 Sankashti Chaturthi fasts observed in a year. Here is the list of Sankashti Chaturthi festivals celebrated in 2026:
| Date | Day | Start Time | End Time | Sankashti Chaturthi | Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jan 2026 | Tuesday | Begins – 08:03 AM, Jan 06 | Ends – 06:53 AM, Jan 07 | Lambodara Sankashti | Pausha |
| 5 Feb 2026 | Thursday | Begins – 12:10 AM, Feb 05 | Ends – 12:23 AM, Feb 06 | Dwijapriya Sankashti | Maagh |
| 6 Mar 2026 | Friday | Begins – 05:54 PM, Mar 06 | Ends – 07:18 PM, Mar 07 | Bhalachandra Sankashti | Phalgun |
| 5 Apr 2026 | Sunday | Begins – 11:59 AM, Apr 05 | Ends – 02:11 PM, Apr 06 | Vikata Sankashti | Chaitra |
| 5 May 2026 | Tuesday | Begins – 05:25 AM, May 05 | Ends – 07:52 AM, May 06 | Ekadanta Sankashti | Vaishakh |
| 3 Jun 2026 | Wednesday | Begins – 09:22 PM, Jun 03 | Ends – 11:30 PM, Jun 04 | Vibhuvana Sankashti | Adhik Jyeshtha |
| 3 Jul 2026 | Friday | Begins – 11:21 AM, Jul 03 | Ends – 12:40 PM, Jul 04 | Krishnapingala Sankashti | Nij Jyeshtha |
| 02 Aug 2026 | Sunday | Begins – 11:08 PM, Aug 01 | Ends – 11:16 PM, Aug 02 | Gajanana Sankashti | Aashadha |
| 31 Aug 2026 | Monday | Begins – 08:50 AM, Aug 31 | Ends – 07:42 AM, Sep 01 | Heramba Sankashti | Shravana |
| 29 Sep 2026 | Tuesday | Begins – 05:10 PM, Sep 29 | Ends – 02:56 PM, Sep 30 | Vighnaraja Sankashti | Bhadrapada |
| 29 Oct 2026 | Thursday | Begins – 01:07 AM, Oct 29 | Ends – 10:10 PM, Oct 29 | Vakratunda Sankashti | Aashwin |
| 27 Nov 2026 | Friday | Begins – 09:49 AM, Nov 27 | Ends – 06:40 AM, Nov 28 | Ganadhipa Sankashti | Kartik |
| 26 Dec 2026 | Saturday | Begins – 08:05 PM, Dec 26 | Ends – 05:132 PM, Dec 27 | Akhuratha Sankashti | Margashirsha |
How to Celebrate Sankashi Chaturthi?
Firstly, take a spiritual bath in the morning and wear clean clothes. Prepare for the Puja by offering puja materials such as sesame seeds, jaggery, modaks or laddus, durva grass, and sandalwood to Lord Ganesha. Then, repeat the sacred story of Lord Ganesha.
Proceed with worship by reciting specific mantras in praise of Lord Ganesha. In the evening, after you are done with worshipping Ganesh ji, complete your ritual by performing ‘Arghya’, which is offering water or gangajal to the moon.
Here is a dedicated Ganesh Mantra for Sankashti Chaturthi:
- गणपति जी की पूजा आप इन मंत्रो से कर सकते हैं।
- ॐ गं गणपतये नम:
- वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ:, निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा।।
- ॐ एकदन्ताय विद्धमहे, वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि, तन्नो दन्ति प्रचोदयात्॥
What Are the Rituals for Sankashti Chaturthi?
The Sankashti Chaturthi fasts are observed with strict discipline. While observing the fast, one should avoid consuming any type of grains in the Vrat diet. Fruits and tubers like potatoes and other edible roots are fine to consume.
Traditionally, break the fast in the evening after sighting the moon and offering arghya. After completion of the fast, eat simple food like boiled sago khichdi, potatoes, peanuts, and other light items in the evening.
FAQs
When is Sankashti Chaturthi celebrated in 2026?
Sankashti Chaturthi is celebrated every month on the fourth day of the Krishna Paksha. In 2026, there are 13 Sankashti Chaturthi fasts observed throughout the year.
What are the rituals for Sankashti Chaturthi?
The rituals for Sankashti Chaturthi include taking a spiritual bath, wearing clean clothes, offering puja materials like sesame seeds, jaggery, modaks, durva grass, and sandalwood to Lord Ganesha, reciting specific mantras, and performing ‘Arghya’ to the moon in the evening.
What is the significance of Sankashti Chaturthi?
Sankashti Chaturthi is observed in reverence of Lord Ganesha, where devotees pray to overcome hurdles and succeed in difficult circumstances. The word ‘Sankashti’ means ‘Freeing from hardship’.
How is the Sankashti Chaturthi fast observed?
The Sankashti Chaturthi fast is observed with strict discipline, avoiding grains in the diet. Devotees can consume fruits and tubers. The fast is traditionally broken in the evening after sighting the moon and offering ‘Arghya’.
What is Angaraki Chaturthi?
Angaraki Chaturthi is the most significant Sankashti Chaturthi, occurring when the festival falls on a Tuesday. It is considered highly auspicious and is celebrated with great fervor.