Sankashti Chaturthi (Ramanandi)
Sri Ganesh (Sankat-Vinashak) — invoked first, then Sri Ram
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Sankashti Chaturthi — the monthly Krishna-paksha fourth-day fast dedicated to Sri Ganesh. Observed by Ramanandi grihasthas as the obstacle-removing prelude to all Sita-Ram seva. Fast is broken at moonrise with arghya to both Ganesh and the chandra-deva.
Dates 2026–2027
Mantra
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
Om Gam Ganapataye Namah
Salutations to Ganapati — the remover of obstacles, invoked first before any Sita-Ram seva.
How to recite
Fast from sunrise after sankalpa before the Ganesh murti placed beside the Ram darbar. Recite the Ganapati Atharvashirsha and Sankat Nashan Ganesh Stotra. At moonrise, offer arghya to the moon and Ganesh, then break the fast with til-gur ladoo and modak prasad.
Benefits
Sankashti — literally 'crisis-removing' — is the monthly Ganesh fast that clears all obstacles before any major Sita-Ram seva. Observing it through the year is held by Ramanandis to ensure that no obstacle ever blocks the dharmic path. Each month's Sankashti has its own Ganesh name (Vakratunda, Ekadanta, Vighnaraja, Krishnapingala, Bhalachandra, Vikata, Akhuratha, Dwijapriya, Ganadhipa, etc.).
✦ Special Note
The Maghi Sankashti (also called Sakat Chauth or Tilkund Chauth, January-February) is the most important of the year — observed by mothers for their children's wellbeing, with til-gur prasad and the Sakat-katha read aloud. Dates per the standard Vikram Samvat Panchang (Purnimanta system — month boundary at Purnima), Ayodhya/Varanasi convention; same underlying calendar as Hindu general, Purnimanta month naming.
Foods Allowed
Foods to Avoid
Meal Idea
Phalahar — fresh fruits, panchamrit, and dry fruits — through the day; til-gur ladoo, modak, and sabudana kheer after moonrise to break the fast.
📜 The story behind this vrat
Once all the gods held a great race — whoever circled the entire universe first would receive a divine modak, Lord Ganesha's favourite sweet, as the prize. Lord Indra mounted his white elephant Airavata. Lord Kartikeya leapt onto his peacock. All the gods sped off at once, racing across the fourteen worlds and the seven oceans. Lord Ganesha looked at his vehicle — a small mouse named Mushika — an…
Read full katha ›
Once all the gods held a great race — whoever circled the entire universe first would receive a divine modak, Lord Ganesha's favourite sweet, as the prize. Lord Indra mounted his white elephant Airavata. Lord Kartikeya leapt onto his peacock. All the gods sped off at once, racing across the fourteen worlds and the seven oceans. Lord Ganesha looked at his vehicle — a small mouse named Mushika — and was quiet for a moment. Then he smiled with quiet wisdom. Instead of racing across the universe he walked slowly and lovingly around his parents Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati three times. He bowed to them with folded hands and stood still. When the gods returned exhausted from their great journey, Ganesha was already seated, peacefully eating his modak. The gods protested — "How can you have won? You never left!" Ganesha replied — "My father Shiva is the consciousness that pervades all creation. My mother Parvati is the divine energy that animates all existence. To circle them with love and devotion is to circle the universe itself — for they contain it entirely. What greater pilgrimage is there than the feet of one's own parents? What greater universe is there than one's own home?" Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were moved to tears of joy. Ganesha was declared the winner. The gods fell silent in humility and in awe. We worship Lord Ganesha on Sankashti Chaturthi — the fourth lunar day in the waning fortnight — and we break our fast only after sighting the moon. He who removed all obstacles not with speed or strength but with wisdom, devotion, and love.
Your family's version of this story may differ — all versions are sacred.
🪔 Aarti
Lord Ganesh
Jai Ganesh Deva
जय गणेश, जय गणेश, जय गणेश देवा । माता जाकी पार्वती, पिता महादेवा ॥ एक दंत दयावंत, चार भुजाधारी । माथे सिंदूर सोहे, मूसे की सवारी ॥ पान चढ़े फूल चढ़े और चढ़े मेवा । लड्डुअन का भोग लगे, संत करें सेवा ॥ अंधों को आंख देत, कोढ़िन को काया । बांझन को पुत्र देत, निर्धन को माया ॥ सूरश्याम शरण आए, सफल कीजे सेवा । माता जाकी पार्वती, पिता महादेवा ॥
Sukhkarta Dukhharta
सुखकर्ता दुःखहर्ता वार्ता विघ्नाची । नुरवी पुरवी प्रेम कृपा जयाची ॥ सर्वांगी सुंदर उटी शेंदुराची । कंठी झळके माळ मुक्ताफळाची ॥ जय देव जय देव जय मंगलमूर्ती । दर्शनमात्रे मनकामना पूर्ती ॥ रत्नखचित फरा तुज गौरीकुमरा । चंदनाची उटी कुंकुमकेशरा ॥ हिरेजडित मुकुट शोभतो बरा । रुणझुणती नूपुरे चरणी घागरिया ॥ जय देव जय देव जय मंगलमूर्ती । दर्शनमात्रे मनकामना पूर्ती ॥ लंबोदर पीतांबर फणिवरबंदना । सरळ सोंड वक्रतुंड त्रिनयना ॥ दास रामाचा वाट पाहे सदना । संकटी पावावे निर्वाणी रक्षावे सुरवरवंदना ॥ जय देव जय देव जय मंगलमूर्ती । दर्शनमात्रे मनकामना पूर्ती ॥
Shri Ram Lalla
Aarti Kije Shri Ramlala Ki
आरती कीजे श्रीरामलला की । पूर्ण निपुण धनुर्वेद कला की ॥ धनुष वाण कर सोहत नीके । शोभा कोटि मदन मद फीके ॥ सुभग सिंहासन आप बिराजैं । वाम भाग वैदेही राजैं ॥ कर जोरे रिपुहन हनुमाना । भरत लखन सेवत बिधि नाना ॥ शिव अज नारद गुन गन गावैं । निगम नेति कह पार न पावैं ॥ नाम प्रभाव सकल जग जानैं । शेष महेश गनेस बखानैं ॥ भगत कामतरु पूरणकामा । दया क्षमा करुना गुन धामा ॥ सुग्रीवहुँ को कपिपति कीन्हा । राज विभीषन को प्रभु दीन्हा ॥ खेल खेल महु सिंधु बंधाये । लोक सकल अनुपम यश छाये ॥ दुर्गम गढ़ लंकापति मारे । सुर नर मुनि सबके भय टारे ॥ देवन थापि सुजस विस्तारे । कोटिक दीन मलीन उधारे ॥ कपि केवट खग निसिचर केरे । करि करुना दुःख दोष निवेरे ॥ देत सदा दासन्ह को माना । जगतपूज्य भे कपि हनुमाना ॥ आरत दीन सदा सत्कारे । तिहुंपुर होत राम जयकारे ॥
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