Sakat Chauth – The day known as Sakat Chauth is set apart for the worship of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Sakat. For their children’s pleasure, prosperity, and well-being, female devotees keep a fast on this day in honour of Krishna Paksha Ganesh Chaturthi. Every region of India celebrates the day with great fervour. Sakat Chauth is also known as Vakratunda Chaturthi or TilKut Chauth in different regions of the nation.
According to the Hindu calendar, the holiday is observed on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha of the Magh month. The day occurs either in January or February according to the Gregorian calendar.
Puja Vidhi of Sakat Chauth
Recite the Ganesha Ashtottara after taking a bath and worshipping Lord Ganesha in the morning. Establish a tiny mud and til mound (sesame seeds). Prepare an alpana and clean the place of prayer (colourful motif).
Put down a wooden platform and cover it with a crisp, clean cloth. Place a Kalash on the other side and ignite a lamp on one side of it (metallic urn) Offer Lord Ganesha and the til and mud mound all the offerings used in Puja, including flowers, kumkum, molis, rolis, and incense sticks. Give five til ladoos (sweets) and five dry fruits to the deity, together with gur (jiggery).
All during the day, the devotees must maintain their fast. Those who practise arghya give the moon water offerings as the moon rises. Pray to the Moon God for the safety and success of your family and your children. Hindu ladies should bow down to their elders and ask for their blessings. Consuming til-based desserts is a way to break the fast.
1. Devotees observe a partial or all-day fast on this day. All day long, they exclusively eat fruits, vegetables, and plant roots. To commemorate the fasting on this day, special dishes such sabudana khichdi, peanuts, and potatoes are made. Only once the main puja is finished is the day’s fast broken.
2. After the moon has become visible in the evening, the primary puja of the day is performed. With Durva grass, fresh flowers, and incense sticks, Lord Ganesha’s idol is worshipped. The “vrat katha” particular to the month in which the Chaturthi is held is read by devotees while lamps are lit. The appearance of the moon marks the conclusion of the day’s rites.
3. During the puja, the god is presented with special sweets or naivedya, such as modaks. These desserts are served as prasad following the katha and aarti.
4. On Sankashti Chaturthi, people worship the moon in addition to Lod Ganesha. In the direction of the moon, offerings are made of water, chandan or sandalwood paste, rice, and flowers.
5. On this day, reciting Vedic hymns or mantras dedicated to Lord Ganesha brings good fortune. Particularly on Sankashti Chaturthi, devotees recite the Ganesha Ashtothra, Sankashtnashana Sthothra, and Vakrathunda Mahakaya.
Mata Ki Katha (The story)
In a village, according to folklore, once resided a porter. He formerly utilised clay to create stunning pottery with unique designs. He used to use a kiln to harden the clay pots after they had been created. The porter noticed that the pots still couldn’t be baked in the furnace after many tries, nevertheless. That being the case, he was unable to get them ready for use.
He went to the King in search of assistance after making repeated attempts and coming up empty-handed. The King called the royal priest (Rajpurohit) to offer a solution for the porter’s problem after hearing his story. Every time the furnace is ignited to solidify the clay pots, the Rajpurohit recommends making a Bali (kid sacrifice) at the kiln.
Raj Purohit’s plan was adopted by the monarch, who commanded every family in the area of the potter to donate one child to Bali for use in the creation of utensils. No one was able to object to or violate the king’s order because it came from him. After that, the families grudgingly began alternately offering their kids as sacrifices.
For a while, this arrangement was in place, until one day an elderly woman with just one son was given the opportunity. She fell into sadness after learning that the monarch had ordered the sacrifice of her only son as well.
It so happened that Sakat Chauth, a day of blessing, fell on the same day as her child’s sacrifice. The elderly woman had a strong devotion to Sakat Mata. She prayed for the survival of her son while praising the goddess Sakat. She gave her kid a betel nut and a “Dub ka Beeda” as a sign of defence against the fire in the furnace and instructed him to say the name of Goddess Sakat.
The youngster was placed inside the kiln when the time arrived and left there while the furnace was preheating the following day. The boy and all the other kids who had been offered as Bali to the kiln were all alive and safe when the porter went back the following morning to check on the furnace. People began to worship Goddess Sakat ever since. For the blessings of Goddess Sakat Mata, fasting has been observed on Sakat Chauth for many generations.
The Importance of Tilkut
Tilkut is because sesame seeds are a fantastic source of several essential nutrients, including protein, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Jaggery is a fantastic source of iron and calcium, and black sesame seeds are also highly advantageous. Together, they generate body heat, boost our resistance to disease, and shield us from the negative consequences of cold weather. In a similar vein, doorva (grass) is recommended for body purification.
A healthy body is the foundation of a healthy mind. One can conquer all challenges and difficulties in life if their mind is in good condition. Giving Tilkut and Doorva to Lord Ganesha has this purpose in mind.
For devoted adherents of this tradition, there are several advantages that can be seen. Here are some examples, as follows:
Some people think that they will be gifted with both physical and mental happiness. Some people think that by performing sankat puja katha, they will be able to find solutions to all of their “sankat” problems. Some people think that by performing this puja, they can get the inspiration they need to deal with the issues they are currently experiencing or will encounter in the future. People who fast clearly benefit from improved immune and digestive systems.
Get daily updates and trendy news to enhance your knowledge with every topic covered. Including fashion, technology, current affairs, travel news, health-related news, sports news, Business, Political News, and many more.
For more information visit Live News Dekho