The word ‘Sankashti’ means ‘deliverance during difficult times’. Therefore, fasting on this day is observed by the devotees to overcome all obstacles in their life with the worship of the obstacle-removing Lord Ganesha or Vighneshvara.

The rituals of Sankashti Chaturthi starts by getting up early and observing a strict fast in the honour of the Lord. One can also opt for a partial fast by having fruits, plant roots and staple foods like peanuts and sabudana khichdi. The fast is broken in the evening after seeing the moon and chanting Vedic mantras for the Lord Ganesha along with offering ‘Modaks’, one of the favourite eatables of this deity. As the fast is broken after the moonrise, worshipping Moon or Lord Soma on this day is also given high importance.

It is to be noted that the moonrise timings for two places always vary. So, before starting the fast, keep in mind the Moonrise timing when the Chaturthi Tithi is prevailing. It might also be that the Chaturthi fasting may fall on Tritiya Tithi.

Sankashti Chaturthi dates for the year 2026 are given below