Sakat Chauth 2024: Date and Time, History & Importance

Sakat Chauth, also known as Ganesh Chauth, Maghi Chauth, Tilkuta Chauth and Sankat Chauth, is observed by women for long and happy life of their children. This is a fast observed mainly in North India. Sakat Chauth or Sakat Chaturthi is celebrated on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi falling in the month of Magh. Lord Ganesha and Goddess Sakat are worshiped on the day of Sakat Chauth and it is believed that when pleased, the Gods provide health, wealth and prosperity to the children of women observing the fast.

The benefits and significance of observing a fast on Sakat Chauth day is also mentioned in the Puranas. Get complete details related to Sakat Chauth 2024 regarding its date & time, vrat karne ka tarika, vrat katha, etc here from this article.

Sakat Chauth 2024 Date

In the year 2024, Sakat Chauth will be observed on Monday, 29th of January. The chaturthi Tithi will begin at 6:10 AM on January 29, 2024 and it will end at 8:54 AM on January 30, 2024.

Details about Ganesh Chaturthi

Significance of Sakat Chauth Vrat

Sakat Chauth is celebrated on the day of Krishna Paksha Chaturthi which is very dear to Lord Ganesha. It is also said that Lord Ganesha was made from clay and brought to life by Mata Parvati on the day of Chaturthi.

The Sakat Chauth Vrat is therefore observed by mothers for the long life of their children. Prayers are offered to Lord Ganesha and He is asked to shower His blessings on the children of women observing this fast. The benefits of observing Sakat Chauth Vrata has been told by Lord Shiva to Mata Parvati in Padma Purana.

It is not a rule that only women can observe this fast. It is in fact believed that the Pandav king Yudhishthira was the first person to keep this fast on the advice of Lord Krishna. There is a very famous temple dedicated to Goddess Sakat in the Sakat village of Rajasthan located around 60 km from Alwar and 150 km from Jaipur. It is said that visiting this temple on the day of Sakat Chauth is very beneficial for one’s children.

Sakat Chauth Vrat Kaise Kare?

The Sakat Chauth vrat is observed without taking any food or water all day long and the fast opens in the evening after offering pooja to the moon. Women observing the Sakat Chauth fast should get up early in the morning, take a bath and wear clean clothes.

Idol of Lord Ganesha should be bathed and cleaned and established in the temple. Flowers, fruits and sweets are offered to Lord Ganesha and He is worshiped by reciting mantras, chalisa and Sakat Chauth vrat katha. Til, gud and modak are some favorite food of Lord Ganesha that should also be offered to Him.

In the evening, women should again take a bath and offer prayers to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Sakat. Sakat Chauth vrat katha should be recited at time of evening Pooja as well. Fruits, laddoo and til should be kept in a basket and offered to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Sakat.

After the evening pooja is done, devotees need to continue the prayers till the sight of the moon. Once the moon is sighted, arghya should be offered and the fast can be opened after that. The basket of prasad should then be opened and it is distributed among the children and other family members.

Sakat Chauth Vrat Katha

Sakat Chauth vrat is considered beneficial only if one recites the Sakat Chauth vrat katha at the time of pooja. The Sakat chauth vrat story goes as follows:

Once upon a time, there lived a rich merchant and his wife who did not believe in performing any religious tasks. The couple had no children of their own and they remained very sad about this. One day, the merchant’s wife visited her neighbor’s house and watched her performing the Sakat Chauth Puja. When the puja was over, she asked the neighbor what kind of Pooja she was doing. On this, the neighbor replied that she has kept Sakat Chauth fast and was praying to Lord Ganesha for the well being of her children. She also told the merchant’s wife that keeping a fast on this day and praying to Lord Ganesha can bless a person with a child.

The merchant’s wife decided to observe the Sakat Chauth fast and that if she was blessed with a son, she will perform Sakat Chauth Puja with Tilkuta. She was then blessed with a son but she decided to perform Sakat Chauth Puja with Tilkuta is he gets married. Time passed and her son’s marriage got fixed but still she did not perform Sakat Chauth Puja with Tilkuta as promised. Owing to her false promises, Sakat Mata got furious. She abducted the son and put him on a Peepal tree in the middle of the jungle.

After a few days, the girl who was going to be married to the merchant’s wife’s son went to the forest to collect fresh doob when she heard a voice of a man nearby. She recognized it was her would-be husband and started panicking to get him down. The son said that it is his mother who is responsible for this and only she can out get him down by performing the Sakat Chauth vrat as promised.

The girl visited his mother and asked her to perform the Sakat Chauth vrat. Merchant’s wife observed the fast as promised and her son was released from the Peepal tree. He also got happily married and all kind of blessings were showered upon him by Sakat mata.