Vrat · Ganesha

Sankashti Chaturthi

The fourth day of the waning moon, kept for Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. The fast lasts until the moon rises.

Next Sankashti Chaturthi
Thursday 29 October 2026
New Delhi

For New Delhi, Thursday 29 October 2026

Krishna Chaturthi tithi

Begins
1:07 am
Ends
10:11 pm
Sunrise
6:31 am
Sunset
5:39 pm
Moonrise
8:17 pm
Moonset
9:52 am

Worked out for your city. Panchangs can differ by a minute or so.

Full panchang for this day →

Puja times

For New Delhi, Thursday 29 October 2026

Moonrise (the fast ends)

8:17 pm

Chaturthi begins
1:07 am
Chaturthi ends
10:11 pm

Worked out for your city. Panchangs can differ by a minute or so.

How it is kept

Customs vary by region and family

  • Fast until moonrise
  • Offer durva grass and modak to Ganesha
  • Break the fast after seeing the moon

What it remembers

Sankashti Chaturthi is the fourth day of the dark fortnight of every month, kept for Ganesha, the remover of obstacles (sankat). Devotees fast through the day and break the fast at moonrise, after seeing the moon and offering it water. A Sankashti on a Tuesday is Angaraki, the most sought of all.

The moon’s pardon

The moon laughed at Ganesha when he fell from his mouse, and was cursed: whoever saw it on Chaturthi would meet false blame. When the moon begged forgiveness, Ganesha softened the curse: it would hold only on Bhadrapada’s Shukla Chaturthi, and on the dark Chaturthi of every month the moon would be worshipped, and the fast broken by its light.

Angaraka’s devotion

Angaraka, Mars, the son of the earth, worshipped Ganesha for a thousand years. Ganesha appeared on a Tuesday Krishna Chaturthi and granted that the day would bear his name, and that its fast would remove every obstacle. Angaraki Sankashti is kept with great crowds at Siddhivinayak and the Ashtavinayak temples.

Parvati and the fast

Parvati is said to have kept the Sankashti fast to win back Ganesha’s presence when he was away. Women keep it for their children’s wellbeing, and the twelve Sankashtis of the year each have their own name and form of Ganesha.

The fast and the moon

The fast lasts from sunrise to moonrise; Ganesha is worshipped in the evening, and the moon when it rises. Families keep it in many ways; follow your own tradition where it differs.

  1. Fast from sunrise: on fruit, milk and the foods allowed in a fast, or without food.
  2. In the evening, worship Ganesha with durva grass (21 blades), red flowers, modak or laddoos, and a lamp.
  3. Read the Sankashti vrat story of the month, and the Ganapati Atharvashirsha or the Sankatnashan Ganesh Stotra.
  4. When the moon rises, look at it, and offer it water with flowers, sandalwood and rice (arghya).
  5. Break the fast after the moon, with the prasad, and then a meal.

What you need

  • An image of Ganesha, durva grass and red flowers
  • Modak or laddoos
  • A lamp, incense and sandalwood
  • Water, rice and flowers for the arghya to the moon

Across India

Maharashtra

Kept widely, with queues at Siddhivinayak in Mumbai and the Ashtavinayak temples, above all on an Angaraki Sankashti.

North India

Sakat Chauth in Magha (January), when mothers fast for their children and offer tilkut, sesame and jaggery.

Karnataka and the south

Sankatahara Chaturthi: Ganesha temples are full at moonrise, and the fast is broken after the moon.

Karwa Chauth

The Sankashti of Kartika is Karwa Chauth in the north, when married women fast for their husbands.

When it falls

Once a month, on Krishna Chaturthi. Kept on the day the tithi holds at moonrise.

These are the usual rules. A few days can differ by a day in your tradition, so check with your temple.

Coming Sankashti Chaturthi dates

New Delhi, India time

  • Thu 29 Oct 2026
  • Fri 27 Nov 2026
  • Sat 26 Dec 2026
  • Mon 25 Jan 2027
  • Wed 24 Feb 2027
  • Thu 25 Mar 2027
  • Sat 24 Apr 2027
  • Sun 23 May 2027
  • Tue 22 June 2027
  • Thu 22 July 2027
  • Fri 20 Aug 2027
  • Sun 19 Sept 2027

Questions

When is Sankashti Chaturthi in 2026?

Thursday 29 October 2026, in New Delhi. In a few places it can fall a day apart, so the date above is worked out for your city.

When does Sankashti Chaturthi fall?

Once a month, on Krishna Chaturthi. Kept on the day the tithi holds at moonrise.

How is Sankashti Chaturthi kept?

Families fast until moonrise, offer durva grass and modak to Ganesha and break the fast after seeing the moon. Customs vary by region and family.

Who is honoured on Sankashti Chaturthi?

Ganesha. The fourth day of the waning moon, kept for Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. The fast lasts until the moon rises.

When is the Sankashti fast broken?

At moonrise, after the moon is seen and offered water. The page shows moonrise for your city; on a cloudy night many follow the time.

Why is Sankashti sometimes a day before the Chaturthi shown in the calendar?

The day is set by the tithi at moonrise, since the fast ends then: it is the day Chaturthi holds when the moon rises, which can be the day before the Chaturthi of sunrise. When Chaturthi holds at neither moonrise, the day it holds at sunrise is kept.

What is Angaraki Sankashti?

A Sankashti that falls on a Tuesday (Angarak is Mars, the lord of Tuesday). It comes a few times a year and is held to be the most powerful, worth all the Sankashtis of the year.

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