Akhurath Sankashti Chaturthi 2024: Fasting method, puja time and mantra

Sankashti Chaturthi is the festival of receiving the special blessings of Lord Ganesha. This fast is observed every month on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi. Devotees worship Lord Ganesha on this day and pray for happiness, prosperity, and freedom from obstacles. Sankashti Chaturthi of Paush month is called Akhurath Sankashti Chaturthi.

This year Akhurath Sankashti Chaturthi will be celebrated on 18 December 2024, which is the last Sankashti Chaturthi of this year.

Akhurath Sankashti Chaturthi date and time

• Chaturthi Tithi Start: 18 December 2024 at 10:06 am.
• Chaturthi Tithi End: 19th December 2024 at 10:02 AM.
• Moonrise time: 8:27 pm.

Akhurath Sankashti Chaturthi worship method

1. Bath and resolution:
   • Wake up before sunrise, take bath and wear clean clothes.
   • Place a stool at the place of worship and spread a red or yellow colored cloth on it and install the idol of Lord Ganesha.
2. Offering puja material:
   • Offer water, durva, akshat, and paan to Lord Ganesha.
   • Worship Lord Ganesha by chanting mantras.
3. Evening puja:
   • After worshiping Lord Ganesha in the evening, offer Arghya to the moon.
   • Anoint Lord Ganesha with pure water and read and recite the fast story of Lord Ganesha during the worship.
4. Aarti and Bhog:
   • Offer sugarcane kheer. This is considered extremely auspicious.
   • End the puja with aarti and break the fast after moon darshan.

Special mantras of Sankashti Chaturthi

Chant the following mantras during the puja to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha:

1. Gajananam Mantra
   Gajananam bhoot ganadi sevatam, kapittha jambu phal charu bhakshanam.
   Umasutam Shoka Vinashkarakam, Namami Vighneshwar Pankajam.
2. seed mantra
   Om Gan Ganpate Namah
3. Vighnaraja Mantra
   Ganpatirvighnarajo lambatundo gajananah.
4. Vakratunda Mahakaya Mantra
   Shri Vakratunda Mahakaya Surya Koti Samprabha.
   God is omnipotent in the Kuru without any obstacles.
5. vashikaran mantra
   Om Vakratundaik Danshtraya Kleem Hreem Shree Gan Ganpati Var Varad.
   Vashmanaya Swaha in all the people.
6. gayatri mantra
   Om Ekdantaay Vihe Vakratundaya Dhimahi.
   Tanno dantiḥ prachodayat.

Importance of Sankashti Chaturthi

It is believed that by observing fast on Sankashti Chaturthi, Lord Ganesha destroys the obstacles and bestows the blessings of happiness, prosperity and peace on his devotees. The fast of Akhurath Sankashti Chaturthi is especially auspicious for those devotees who want to get freedom from obstacles in life.

By observing this fast with full devotion and method, one gets the special blessings of Lord Ganesha.