Sankashti Chaturthi is the 4th day of the waning lunar phase after the full moon.[1] If this Chaturthi falls on a Tuesday it is called Angarki Chaturthi. On this day, the devotees observe strict fast. They break the fast at night after having darshan/auspicious sight of the moon preceded by prayers to Lord Ganesha. The Angarki Chaturthi (angarak in Sanskrit means red like burning coal ambers) Devotees believe their wishes would be fulfilled if they pray on this auspicious day. Also Sankashti means deliverance during troubled times, hence observing this fast is believed to reduce your problems as Lord Ganesha symbolizes the remover of all obstacles and supreme lord of intelligence. Before moonlight the Ganapati Atharvashesha is recited to summon the blessings of Lord Ganesha.
During each month, Lord 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 ‘Vratha Katha’. This prayer offering has 13 Vratha 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 Vratha is that the story pertaining to that month alone has to be recited.
The Sankasta Ganapathi Pooja - 13 Names and Peetas
Month
Name of Ganesh in which the pooja is performed
Name of the peeta
Chaitra Masa
Vikata Maha Ganapati
Vinayaka Peeta
Vaishaka Masa
Chanakra Raja Ekadanta Ganapathi
Srichakra Peeta
Jeshta Masa
Krishna Pingala Maha Ganapati
Sri Shakthi Ganapathi Peeta
Ashada Masa
Gajaanana Ganapati
Vishnu Peeta
Shravana Masa
Heramba Maha Ganapati
Ganapathi Peeta
Bhadrapada Masa
Vignaraja Maha Ganapati
Vigneshwara Peeta
Ashweeja Masa
Vakrathunda Maha Ganapati
Bhuvaneshwari Peeta
Karthika Masa
Ganadipa Maha Ganapati
Shiva Peeta
Margashira Masa
Akuratha Maha Ganapati
Durga Peeta
Pushya Masa
Lambodara Maha Ganapati
Soura Peeta
Maga Masa
Dwijapriya Maha Ganapati
Samanya deva Peeta
Palguna Masa
Balachandra Maha Ganapati
Agama Peeta
Adika Masa
Vibhuvana Palaka Maha Ganapati
Doorva Bilva Patra Peeta
Vinayak Chaturthi 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 community (Mostly smarthaorshaiva). The fast is supposed to be strict and only fruit, roots or vegetable products are supposed to be consumed. Since the potato, Cassava/sabudana-tapioca and peanut arrived from the New World after Columbus, these three quickly became staple in Indian fasts giving dishes of the likes of Sabudanakhichadi.
