Angarki Chaturthi 2024

Angarki Chaturthi is an auspicious fasting day for Hindus that is observed on Sankashti Chaturthi that falls on a Tuesday. This vrat is dedicated to God Ganesha and is also known as ‘Angarki Sankashti Chaturthi’. Normally the fasting is done on the ‘chaturthi’ (4th day) after purnima (full moon day) during the ‘Krishna Paksha’ (dark fortnight of moon) of every lunar month in the Hindu calendar.

Angarki Chaturthi is considered to be the most auspicious of all the Sankashti Ganesha Chaturthi days. This day holds immense significance for followers of Marathi culture and the celebrations of this festival is particularly renowned in the western regions of India. In Maharashtra, special arrangements are made in Lord Ganesha temples on the day of Angarki Chaturthi.

‘Angarki’ is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning ‘red like burned coal’. Hindu devotees strongly believe that by worshipping Lord Ganesha and keeping a fast on this day will help them to fulfil all their desires. Angarki Chaturthi is thus a day of deliverance. It is explained in Hindu legends how Lord Ganesha blessed Lord Mars on this day. Therefore a person keeping a fast on this day receives blessings of both, Lord Ganesha and Lord Mars. Such a person will never face problems and live a contented and peaceful life.

Rituals during Angarki Chaturthi:

• On Angarki Chaturthi, devotees get up early and take a bath. They worship an idol of Lord Ganesha made either from mud, copper or even gold. He is worshipped with proper rituals and offerings. ‘Modak’, the favourite sweet of Lord Ganesha is prepared and distributed among devotees, after the ‘aarti’.
• Devotees keep a strict vrat on the day of Angarki Chaturthi to please Lord Ganesha. The fasting starts at sunrise and comes to an end after sighting the moon in the evening. The entire day is spent without eating a single grain of food. Some people also observe a partial fast in which eating of fruits and sabudana khichdi is allowed.
• While fasting, drinking excessive fluid or eating betel leaves, nuts or tobacco is strictly prohibited and is equivalent to breaking the fast.
• The Angarki Chaturthi vrat ends after sighting moon and performing puja of God Ganesha. Devotees also offer ‘aargya’ to Ganesha and then break their fast by consuming pure vegetarian food. Devotees also worship the Moon God on this day with sandalwood paste, rice and flowers.
• Vedic mantras dedicated to Lord Ganesha are recited on this day. It is very rewarding to read the ‘Ganapati Atharvashesha’ before moonlight on Angarki Chaturthi. Bhajans and religious hymns are also sung on this day in praise of Lord Ganesha.

Important Timings On Angarki Chaturthi 2024

Significance of Angarki Chaturthi:

The importance and rituals of Angarki Chaturthi is mentioned in religious scriptures like ‘Ganesha Purana’ and ‘Smriti Kaustubha’. Devotees worship Lord Ganesha on this day to seek His blessings for a joyful and prosperous life. According to the Hindu legends, Lord Ganesha is also known to be the supreme lord of intelligence and remover of all obstacles. Hence worshipping God Ganesha will help people to remove obstacles and reduce problems in their life. The occurrence of Angarki Chaturthi is once in six months and is celebrated with utmost zeal and dedication. It is also held that a person who observes a sacred fast on Angarki Chaturthi gets the same benefits as those obtained by keeping the Sankashti Ganesha Chaturthi, all throughout the year.

Angarki Chaturthi festival dates between 2020 & 2030

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