Introduction to Sakat Chauth Vrat Katha:

Sakat Chauth is a well-known Hindu Vrat which is mostly observed in India’s northern states. These are primarily the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh. The day is on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi of the month of Magh which comes during January or February. On this day, mothers fast for the long life of their children, that is a waterless fast. The day is dedicated to the goddess Sakat, who removes all obstacles and blesses with happiness, prosperity, and good health to devotees. Besides Goddess Sakat, this day also worships Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Sakat Chauth is of special importance in a woman’s life, particularly a mother who performs fasting for the welfare of their children, especially the boys.

Sakat Chauth Vrat 2025: Jan 17, 2025

Pooja Time: Chandroday 8:24 PM

What is Sakat Chauth?

Skat Chauth is observed as a day of fasting and worship to Goddess Sakat and Lord Ganesha. The term “Sakat” comes from the word “Sankat,” meaning “obstacles” or “troubles.” On this very day, all obstacles for the worshipper are done away with, particularly on a family and personal basis. It is a joyous event when women, in particular mothers, pray to Goddess Sakat to protect their family and to get rid of any type of trouble created in their households.

It is celebrated on the fourth day of the dark fortnight, known as Krishna Paksha, in the month of Magh. Though Sakat Chauth is primarily celebrated in the northern states, its importance is not confined to a particular region and is celebrated in various parts of India. Sakat Chauth is also known as Sankat Chauth, Maghi Chaturthi, Tilkuta Chauth, and Vakratundi Chaturthi.

Significance of Sakat Chauth

Ancient traditions and beliefs have helped the importance of Sakat Chauth in Hinduism. According to the tradition, Goddess Sakat is thought to ward off all barriers, and obstacles that occur to families and children. On this day, people specifically women, pray to Goddess Sakat to protect their families and remove all kinds of hardships they might encounter.

It is believed that worshiping Goddess Sakat with Wighnharta Lord Ganesha on this day can remove all personal or family-related problems and provide people with prosperity and happiness. The fast on this day is also believed to help achieve success in various endeavors, especially for women seeking blessings for the well-being of their sons and families. The Legends Behind Sakat Chauth

These are legends deeply rooted in Indian mythology and represent a basis for understanding the reasons behind this festival. These tell of compassion by the goddess, the power of faith, and the intervention on her part to shield her devotees from being harmed.

Rituals and Celebrations

The rituals of Sakat Chauth are performed very religiously and with great caution. The day is filled with prayers, offerings, and fasting, which are thought to bring blessings and remove obstacles in the lives of devotees.

On this day, mothers keep a dry fast the whole day and break their fast in the evening after offering Arghya to the moon. After seeing the moon in the evening, they offer Durva (grass), sweet potatoes, jaggery, and sesame laddoos during the worship. The prasad of the next morning is eaten by the devotees in which all the foods offered to Sakat Mata are kept. Sesame seeds are roasted and crushed with jaggery. A Tilkuta mount is prepared, and sometimes a Tilkuta goat/sheep is also made with tilkut. After worshipping, prasad is shared with all.

After performing the worship, mothers recount the Sakat Chauth Vrat Katha. The vrat is said to be delivered to its full potential only after listening to or reading Sakat Chauth Vrat Katha.

Some of the main rituals performed on Sakat Chauth are as follows.

1. Preparations for Worship:

The worship begins very early in the morning. A small wooden platform or chowki is placed inside the area of worship. On this chowki, a yellow cloth is spread, and on this cloth, the idol or image of Lord Ganesha is placed. The idol is decorated with flowers, especially the yellow and red ones as they are considered auspicious.

2. Fasting:

Women observe a strict fast on Sakat Chauth. They normally avoid food and water all day and makeup with prayers all through the day. Fasting is considered to be a purifying process for both body and mind. It also involves an act of worship conducted to appease Goddess Sakat and Lord Ganesha. In the evening, fruits and sweets are taken in breaking the fast, as they are considered as prasad.

3. Darshan and Prayers:

There are various items offered to Lord Ganesha on this day. They include the following:

Durva Grass: It is one type of grass offered to Lord Ganesha.
Modaks: These are sweet dumplings, which are liked most by Lord Ganesha.
Tilkuta: Tilkuta is one type of sweet prepared using sesame seeds and jaggery. This is offered to Goddess Sakat.
Ghee lamps: Ghee lamps are lit to attain the blessings of Lord Ganesha.
Fruits and Sweets: Other sweets and fruits are offered during the ritual.

These offerings are presented along with prayers to remove obstacles, ensure the safety of children, and bring prosperity to the family.

4. Listening to the Sakat Chauth Vrat Katha:

After completing pooja, one reads or listens to the Sakat Chauth Vrat katha. It contains all the stories of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Sakat with all their miracles. So it reminds a person that faith and devotion are very necessary.

5. Breaking of Fast:

The fasting women break the fast by eating prasad, the offerings given to them after performing pooja and listening to Sakat Chauth Vrat Katha. Sakat Chauth prasad is exchanged among family members and distributed among neighbors for happiness and good luck.

Why Is Sakat Chauth Vrat So Important?

Sakat Chauth Vrat is considered an important day because it is a worship day of two godly figures: Goddess Sakat and Lord Ganesha, both of whom are believed to remove obstacles and bring prosperity.

For women, especially mothers, Sakat Chauth is a significant event for praying for the welfare of their children, who are healthy, happy, and safe. It is believed that through fasting and devoted prayer, mothers can protect their children from bad luck and ensure that they have a bright future ahead.

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The Sakat Chauth Vrat is not completed without hearing or reading the Sakat Chauth Vrat Katha. There are many popular stories related to this vrat; one of them is about the old woman, Lord Ganesha, and those in which Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva are involved. You can read any one of these stories related to Sakat Chauth according to your choice.

Some of these popular stories associated with Sakat Chauth are:

1. Famous Folklore About Sakat Chauth:

The Legend of the Potter and the Sacrifice:

There is this famous folklore about Sakat Chauth. A poor potter lived in a village. He worked day and night, making clay pots but never got his pots fully baked in the kiln. No matter how he tried, his pots used to come back raw.

The potter went to the king to share his problem with much sorrow and despair. The king called his royal priest, who told the potter to sacrifice a child to Goddess Sakat so that the fire in the kiln would become stronger and bake the pots properly. The king believed the priest’s words and ordered that every family must send a child when their turn came.

When the old woman’s son was selected for sacrifice, she prayed to Goddess Sakat for her son’s safety. The old woman worshiped Goddess Sakat and offered her son a betel nut (sakat ki supari) and asked him to sit in the kiln and chant the name of Goddess Sakat. Miraculously, the fire in the kiln started baking the pots perfectly well and found the child completely unharmed. The next day, there would be proper baked pots, and the children would be safe.

The powers of Goddess Sakat were divine and thereby, the ritual of Sakat Chauth has been followed ever since, which is a tradition celebrated by women to ensure the safe and healthy lives of their children.

There was an old woman. She was very poor and blind. She had a son and a daughter-in-law. The old woman always used to worship Lord Ganesha. One day, Lord Ganesha appeared and said to the old woman, “Mother, ask for anything you wish.”

The old woman said, “I’m not sure how to ask. What should I request, and how should I do it?

So says the Lord Ganesha: “Ask your son and your daughter-in-law and get something from them.” And the old woman asked, “Lord Ganesha says, ‘Ask for something.’ Tell me what one should ask for?” “That mother, ask for gold,” said the son. She asked her daughter-in-law, and the lady said, “Ask him to give you a grandson.

The old woman thought to herself, “They are asking for things based on their own interests.” So, she asked the neighbors, and they said, “Oh, the old woman will live for only a few more days. Why ask for wealth or a grandson? Ask for your eyesight, so that you can live your life peacefully.”

Hearing this, the old woman said, “If you are pleased, then give me nine crore riches, a healthy body, an eternal husband, eyesight, a grandson, a great-grandson, happiness for the whole family, and finally, moksha (liberation).”

Hearing this, Lord Ganesha replied, “Mother, you have tricked me. But, still, according to my promise, you will receive everything you have asked for.” Saying this, Lord Ganesha disappeared. Later, everything that the old woman requested came true.

O Lord Ganesha, just like you fulfilled everything to the old woman, please fill up the lives of all these people too.

3. The Story of Lord Ganesha’s Elephant Head:

Goddess Parvati used to go for bathing occasionally. She asked Lord Ganesha, the son, before stepping into the public bathroom and not letting in any people until she got back home. She asks that since the son agrees by taking a position outside that end and begins guarding.

At that time, Lord Shiva came to meet Goddess Parvati, but Lord Ganesha stopped him at the door and asked him to wait. This made Lord Shiva very angry and insulted. Lord Shiva became very angry and struck Lord Ganesha with his trident, causing Ganesha’s head to be cut off and fall away.

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So Goddess Parvati heard that noise, went out there, and found that she had seen the head that had been chopped off. She then wept upon Lord Shiva and commanded that he must revive her son. For restoration, therefore, Lord Shiva sent people who were to get the elephant’s head for its replacement as the head on Ganesha’s body. Now, he became a human being once again, so his head became that of an elephant.

From that day onwards, Lord Ganesha was said to have an elephant head. Since then, women began to keep the Ganesh Chaturthi fast on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Magh to pray for the safety of their children.

Sakat Chauth is a beautiful and meaningful festival celebrated with a lot of devotion by millions of people. This all binds the family and faith, making them stronger. The rituals, fasting, and worship of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Sakat bring the community together, strengthening the bonds of family and faith. Be it a devotee or an onlooker, Sakat Chauth is a reminder of the importance of devotion, the power of faith, and the blessings of the divine. With this fasting and the rituals, the devotee asks for protection from all kinds of obstacles, welfare, and happiness of their families, so it is a great festival.

Besides, the festival even teaches faith and devotion in the process. It teaches us to trust in divine powers and by seeking blessings with a pure heart, one can overcome challenges for success.