Chaturthi () refers to the
fourth day of a lunar fortnight in the
Hindu calendar
The Hindu calendar, Panchanga () or Panjika is one of various lunisolar calendars that are traditionally used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with further regional variations for social and Hindu religious purposes. They adopt a s ...
.
Festivals
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Karak Chaturthi (''Karvā Chauth''): It is celebrated on ''Chaturthī'' of
Krishna Paksha
Paksha (also known as ''pakṣa''; sa, पक्ष, Nepal Bhasa: ''thwa'' and ''gа̄''; ) refers to a fortnight or a lunar phase in a month of the Hindu lunar calendar.
Literally meaning "side", a paksha is the period either side of the Ful ...
(waning lunar phase) of
Kārtika Month as per the ''Purnimanta'' calendar. During this
vrata
Vrata is a Sanskrit word that means "vow, resolve, devotion", and refers to pious observances such as fasting and pilgrimage ( Tirtha) found in Indian religions such as Jainism and Hinduism. It is typically accompanied with prayers seeking hea ...
,
Parvati
Parvati ( sa, पार्वती, ), Uma ( sa, उमा, ) or Gauri ( sa, गौरी, ) is the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood. She is a physical representation of Mahadevi i ...
and
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
are worshipped, along with
Kartikeya
Kartikeya ( sa, कार्त्तिकेय, Kārttikeya), also known as Skanda, Subrahmanya, Shanmukha (), and Murugan ( ta, முருகன்), is the Hindu god of war. He is the son of Parvati and Shiva, the brother of Ganesha ...
and
Ganesha
Ganesha ( sa, गणेश, ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in Ganapatya sect. His image is found throughout India. Hindu d ...
. The day is also known as ''Vakratunda Sankashti Chaturthi''.
* Bahula Chaturthi (''Bol Chauth''): This Vrat is observed on ''Chaturthi'' of ''Krishna Paksha'' of
Bhadrapada
Bhadra or Bhadrapada or Bhādo or Bhadraba
(Bengali: ভাদ্র ''bhādro''; )
(Hindi: भादों ''bhādo''; )(Sanskrit: भाद्रपद ''bhādrapada'';) ( ne, भाद्र ''Bhādra'';) ( or, ଭାଦ୍ରବ ''Bhadraba;' ...
month as per ''Purnimanta'' calendar. The festival is characterized by worshiping
Dhenu/Gau Mata (holy cows) & their calves and decorating them. The day is also known as ''Heramba Ganpati Sankashti Chaturthi''.
*
Sankashti Chaturthi
'Sankashti Chaturthi'', also known as Sankatahara Chaturthi, is a day in every lunar month of the Hindu calendar dedicated to Hindu God Ganesha. This day falls on the fourth day of the Krishna Paksha (the dark lunar phase or the waning fortnight o ...
is the ''Chaturthi'' (4th day) of the ''Krishna'' ''Paksha'' (waning
lunar phase
Concerning the lunar month of ~29.53 days as viewed from Earth, the lunar phase or Moon phase is the shape of the Moon's directly sunlit portion, which can be expressed quantitatively using areas or angles, or described qualitatively using the t ...
) after
Purnima
Pūrṇimā () is the word for full moon in Sanskrit. The day of Purnima is the day (''Tithi'') in each month when the full moon occurs, and marks the division in each month between the two lunar fortnights ( paksha), and the Moon is aligned exact ...
(full moon). If this Chaturthi falls on a ''Mangalvara'' (Tuesday) it is called ''Angarki Chaturthi''. On this day, the devotees observe strict ''vrata'' (fast). They conclude the fast at night after having ''darshan (a''uspicious sighting) of the moon preceded by prayers to
Ganesha
Ganesha ( sa, गणेश, ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in Ganapatya sect. His image is found throughout India. Hindu d ...
. Devotees believe their wishes would be fulfilled if they pray on this auspicious day. The Ganapati Atharvashesha is recited to seek the blessings of Ganesha.
During each month, Ganesha is worshiped with a different name and peeta (lotus petals). On the Charturti day (4th day after new moon) of each month, the 'Sankashta Ganapathi Pooja' prayer is performed. Each ‘Vratha’ (strict fast) has a purpose and is explained to us by a story known as the ‘Vrata Katha’. This prayer offering has 13 Vrata Kathas, one for each month and the 13th story is for 'athika' (The Hindu calendar has one extra month every 4 years). The uniqueness of this vrata is that the story pertaining to that month alone has to be recited.
*
Vinayaka Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi (ISO 15919, ISO: ), also known as Vinayak Chaturthi (), or Ganeshotsav () is a Hindu festival commemorating the birth of the Hindu god Ganesha. The festival is marked with the installation of Ganesha's clay Murti, idols private ...
is the Chaturthi after Amavasya or new moon. Devotees observe the fast for full day and night and meal is consumed the next day.
: This fast is mostly observed in Western and Southern India especially by the
Brahmin
Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (guru ...
community (
Smarta
The ''Smarta'' tradition ( sa, स्मार्त), also called Smartism, is a movement in Hinduism that developed and expanded with the Puranas genre of literature. It reflects a synthesis of four philosophical strands, namely Mimamsa, A ...
or
Shaiva
Shaivism (; sa, शैवसम्प्रदायः, Śaivasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Supreme Being. One of the largest Hindu denominations, it incorporates many sub-traditions rangin ...
). The fast is supposed to be strict and only fruit, roots or vegetable products are supposed to be consumed.
*
Angarki Sankashti ChaturthiIs the 4th day of the waning lunar phase after the full moon.coming on Tuesday.
*
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi (ISO: ), also known as Vinayak Chaturthi (), or Ganeshotsav () is a Hindu festival commemorating the birth of the Hindu god Ganesha. The festival is marked with the installation of Ganesha's clay idols privately in homes and p ...
is one of prominent Chaturthi on which Ganesha makes his presence on the earth.
*
Magha shukla chaturthi:
Ganesh Jayanti
Ganesh Jayanti (literally "Ganesha's birthday", also known as Magha shukla chaturthi, Tilkund chaturthi, and Varad chaturthi, is a Hindu festival. This occasion celebrates the birth day of Ganesha, the lord of wisdom. It is a popular festival pa ...
*
Samvatsari
''Saṃvatsari'' ( sa, संवत्सरी) (lit. Annual Day or fig. Forgiveness Day) is the last day of ''Paryushana'' Shwetambar sect of Jainism. It falls on Shukla Panchami each year in the Jain calendar month of Bhadrapada, somewh ...
(
Kshamavani
Kshamavani ( sa, Kṣamāvaṇī) or "Forgiveness Day" is a day of forgiving and seeking forgiveness for the followers of Jainism. Digambaras celebrate it on the first day of ''Ashvin Krishna'' month of the lunar-based Jain calendar. Śvētām ...
), falls on
Shukla Paksha
Paksha (also known as ''pakṣa''; sa, पक्ष, Nepal Bhasa: ''thwa'' and ''gа̄''; ) refers to a fortnight or a lunar phase in a month of the Hindu lunar calendar.
Literally meaning "side", a paksha is the period either side of the F ...
Bhadrapad
Bhadra or Bhadrapada or Bhādo or Bhadraba
(Bengali: ভাদ্র ''bhādro''; )
(Hindi: भादों ''bhādo''; )(Sanskrit: भाद्रपद ''bhādrapada'';) ( ne, भाद्र ''Bhādra'';) ( or, ଭାଦ୍ରବ ''Bhadraba;' ...
.
*
Nagula Chaviti
Nagula Chavithi (Telugu: నాగుల చవితి) is an auspicious day to observe Naga Puja. Nagula Chavithi is observed on the fourth day (Chaturthi) after Deepavali Amavasya during Karthika masam. Nag Panchami and Nagasashti are observ ...
References
04
Hindu calendar
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