Chaturthi
Encyclopedia
Chaturthi or Chaviti is the fourth day (Tithi
) of any lunar month
in the Hindu calendar
.
This fast is mostly observed in Western and Southern India especially by the Brahmin
community (Mostly smartha or shaiva). 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 Sabudana khichadi.
Nagula Chaviti
Tithi
In vedic timekeeping, a tithi is a lunar day, or the time it takes for the longitudinal angle between the moon and the sun to increase by 12°. Tithis begin at varying times of day and vary in duration from approximately 19 to approximately 26 hours. There are 30 tithis in each lunar month, named...
) of any lunar month
Lunar month
In lunar calendars, a lunar month is the time between two identical syzygies . There are many variations. In Middle-Eastern and European traditions, the month starts when the young crescent moon becomes first visible at evening after conjunction with the Sun one or two days before that evening...
in the Hindu calendar
Hindu calendar
The hindu calendar used in ancient times has undergone many changes in the process of regionalization, and today there are several regional Indian calendars, as well as an Indian national calendar. Nepali calendar, Bengali calendar, Malayalam calendar, Tamil calendar, Telugu calendar, Kannada...
.
Festivals of Chaturthi
- Ganesh ChaturthiGanesh ChaturthiGanesh Chaturthi , also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is the Hindu festival of Ganesha also called Vinayagar in Tamil Nadu, the son of Shiva and Parvati, who is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this festival...
is one of prominent Chaturthi on which Lord GaneshaGaneshaGanesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
makes his presence on the earth. - Sankashti Chaturthi is the 4th day of the waning lunar phaseLunar phaseA lunar phase or phase of the moon is the appearance of the illuminated portion of the Moon as seen by an observer, usually on Earth. The lunar phases change cyclically as the Moon orbits the Earth, according to the changing relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun...
after the full moon. 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.
This fast is mostly observed in Western and Southern India especially by the Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
community (Mostly smartha or shaiva). The fast is supposed to be strict and only fruit, roots or vegetable products are supposed to be consumed. Since the potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
, Cassava
Cassava
Cassava , also called yuca or manioc, a woody shrub of the Euphorbiaceae native to South America, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates...
/sabudana-tapioca and peanut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
arrived from the New World after Columbus, these three quickly became staple in Indian fasts giving dishes of the likes of Sabudana khichadi.
- SamvatsariSamvatsariSamvatsari is the last day of Paryushana —the eight or ten day festival of Jainism. It is the holiest day of the Jain calendar. Many Jains observe a complete fast on this day. The whole day is spent in prayers and contemplation. A yearly, elaborate penitential retreat called samvatsati...
(Kshamavani), falls on Shukla Paksha Bhadrapad.
Nagula Chaviti
Nagula chaviti
Nagula Chavithi is an auspicious day to observe Naga Puja. Nagula Chavithi is observed on the fourth day after Deepavali Amavasya during Karthika masam. Nag Panchami and Nagasashti are observed after Naga Chaturthi...