Observed mainly in the northern states of India, the Sankashti Chaturthi Vrat is dedicated to Goddess Sakat, which is equally mentioned in the Sakat Chauth Vrat Katha that briefs about the wondrous and kind nature of the goddess.

Dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Sakat Chauth falls on the 4th day of the Hindu month of Magha in Krishna Paksha or dark lunar fortnight. Women observe a fast on this day to commemorate Lord Ganesha and pray for the well being of their children.

Legend and Vrat Katha of Sakat Chauth

Once upon a time in a village far away lived a potter who was a master in his art of clay pots. His clay pots were renowned in the entire village because of how well he made them. One fine year, the potter faced an issue. His pots were not drying up in the kiln. He couldn’t understand what the issue was and started panicking. The fire of the kiln was not hot enough to ripen the clay pots which resulted in the loss of several batches of clay pots.

After repeated attempts at making the clay pots, the potter decided to take this matter to the king. After hearing everything the king was perplexed and couldn’t reach a solution, for which he then consulted the RajPurohit- the consultant of the King. The Rajpurohit suggested sacrificing a child every time the kiln was prepared for the clay pots. Upon hearing this, the ing decreed that each family has to give up one child each every time the potter prepared the kiln. One by one the families started giving up their children to obey the orders of their King.

However, after a few days, it came the turn of an old woman who had only one son. She couldn’t believe that she was about to sacrifice her child on the day of Sakat Chauth when she knew she needed him the most in her olden days. The woman feared that on the pious day of Sakat, her child would befall the fate of a bali, but she couldn’t disobey the command of the king as well.

To cope with it, the old woman who revered Goddess Sakat in the highest of knowledge, gave her son a betel nut of Sakat and “Dub ka beeda” to safeguard him against the fire of the kiln. The woman asked her son to pray to Goddess Sakat whilst he sits in the kiln and be assured that Goddess Sakat would not let anything happen to him.

The boy was made to sit in the kiln in order to prepare it for the clay pots and old woman wasted no time and started praying to her Goddess with utter faith in her devotion that her son would survive any danger that might befall him. She knew Goddess Sakat would not let anything happen to her only son. The son, on the other hand, was sitting in the kiln in order to prepare it for the clay pots to ripen.

The kiln was supposed to take days to be prepared for the ripening, but miraculously it was prepared in a single night. Next morning when the potter came to inspect his kiln he was astonished to find the boy sitting, unharmed. And not just that, all the other children who were sacrificed in the fire of the kiln previously were also present there- safe and alive. Goddess Sakat protected the old woman’s son and all the other children who had been sacrificed prior to the boy.

Upon seeing this miracle with their own eyes, everyone in the village found themselves dumbstruck. They couldn’t believe the grace of Goddess Sakat and how she safeguarded these children. All the dwellers couldn’t help but accept the power of Goddess Sakat and revere her for what she did for them. They were amazed by the kind and compassionate nature of the Goddess and not just that, they also praised the old woman and her devotion towards the deity.

To celebrate the Goddess who proved mothers can do anything and everything and there’s nothing bigger than compassion- Sakat Chauth is commemorated to celebrate this spirit of Goddess Sakat and thank her for what she did and time and time again continues to do for her devotees.

Celebrated with great devotion and zeal in North Indian states, Sakat Chauth or Sankashti Chaturthi is a day for mothers to pray to Goddess Sakat for the well being of her children. A fast is observed to worship the Goddess with utmost devotion and love so that no harm befalls the children.