Comprehensive 2021 Dates, Times, Puja Proper for Chaturthi and Trayodashi Vratas Prem Namaste, Vanakkum, Pranaams Jai Shree Krsna, Jai Shree Raam We at www.dipika.org.za pray that you are well¼ #TeamDipika. We at Dipika are always looking for ways to provide information to improve your spiritual life... The Dates, Times, Puja Proper and Significance of the information given below will surely do that. The following is not on the Hindu calendar but we have decided to add it anyway for the many that email DIPIKA for this information. Chaturthi Dates for 2021 Sankashti Chaturthi is the 4th lunar day after the Full Moon and is a special and sacred day of the Lunar month in the Hindu calendar when Lord Ganesh's devotees invoke his blessings to rid themselves of problems and impediments in their life and bring prosperity, happiness and fulfillment of desires. Sankashti means deliverance during troubled times, hence observing this fast reduces one©s problems as Lord Ganesh is the prominent Deity to remove all obstacles and is the lord of intelligence as well. ªSankataº in Sanskrit means difficulty, crisis or obstacle, while ªharaº refers to removal or elimination. HOW TO OBSERVE A SANKASHTI CHATURTHI DAY:- In the morning after taking bath, offer prayers to Lord Ganesha. Light a "Deepak" (earthen lamp) and peform a simple prayer to Lord Ganesh. On this special day, ideally one should consume only water throughout the day until Moonrise, and chant the names of Lord Ganesh with full devotion that is if you want to observe a complete Sankashti Vrata. However, those devotees observing partial fast can consume Sabudana Khichadi *** (see below for the recipe), potato, fruits, nuts or curd rice. Salt MUST be avoided. Devotees observe this fast from sunrise to moonrise (Moonrise times are provided below in this article) in the evening. Sankashti means deliverance during one©s troubled times. Lord Ganesh, the supreme lord of intelligence, symbolizes the remover of all obstacles. Hence by observing this vrat one can easily remove all of one©s obstacles in one©s life. Sankashti Chaturthi Evening Puja. In the evening on this very auspicious night after having a bath and wearing clean clothes, one should perform his/her puja after sighting the moon. After sighting the moon, one must offer Lord Ganesha incense, lamp and flowers. Offer these items seven times in a clockwise direction around his picture/deity form. Then offer Lord Ganesha the sacred Durva/Kusha/Darbha grass and then his favourite food viz. coconut, kheer (sweet rice), sugar candy and laddus. Then devotees recite or hear his prayers ± like the Ganesha Gayatri and the Ashtotharam Shatanamavali (his 108 names). Offer Lord Ganesh prayers with faith and devotion that he may remove all the obstacles that you may have in your path. After the pooja is complete, distribute and eat the Prasad. The importance of Sankata Chaturti Vrata was narrated by Lord Krishna to Maharaja Yudhishtira, the eldest of the 5 Pandavas. The importance of this sacred vrata is also narrated in the Nrsimha Purana and Bhavishaya Purana. *** Sabudana Khichari Recipe:- Preparation time: 16-20 minutes, Cooking time: 6- 10 minutes, Servings: 4. Ingredients:- one and half cups Sago (sabudana), 1/4 cup peanuts, 4-5 green chillies, 1 medium Potato, 3 Tbps Ghee, 1-2 sprigs curry leaves, 1 tsp cumin (jeera) seeds, 1 tsp lemon juice, 2 Tbps fresh coconut scraped, a few sprigs of fresh coriander leaves Method:- Wash the sabudana 2-3 times and then soak in one-cup water for 3-4 hours. The Sabudana grains should be separate and moist. Roast peanuts on a hot pan, and then remove the skin and then grind the nuts coarsely. Now wash the green chillies, and then chop finely. Peel and wash the potato and cut into half cm. cubes. Then wash and chop coriander leaves. Now heat ghee in a pan, add curry leaves, cumin seeds and chopped green chillies. When cumin seeds crackle add the potato cubes. Cook till the potatoes are soft-ish. Now add the sabudana, scraped coconut and ground peanuts, sauté for four to five minutes, stirring well. Sprinkle a little water, add the lime juice. Mix well. Remove from heat. Sprinkle chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot. One can add Dehi (maas/yogurt) to camouflage the lack of salt in the preparation. If a Chaturthi falls on a Tuesday it is called Angarki Chaturthi (this year {2021} there is two Angarki Chaturthi viz. 2nd March and 27th July). On these 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 know their wishes would be fulfilled if they pray on this auspicious day. Also before moonlight the Ganapati Atharvashesha is recited to summon the blessings of Lord Ganesha. Chaturthi Dates 2021 Moonrise Timings MOONRISE TIMINGS DURBAN JHB 02 January (Saturday) 21h49 21h56 31 January (Sunday) 21h03 21h13 02 March (Tuesday) 20h48 21h03 31 March (Wednesday) 20h02 20h20 29 April (Thursday) 19h27 19h48 29 May (Saturday) 20h11 20h33 27 June (Sunday) 20h04 20h24 27 July (Tuesday) 20h53 21h08 25 August (Wednesday) 20h34 20h46 24 September (Friday) 21h09 21h17 24 October (Sunday) 21h48 21h51 22 November (Monday) 21h29 21h31 22 December (Wednesday) 21h44 21h48 Trayodashi Dates 2021 Pradosha Puja Time 10 January (Sunday) 19:01 to 21:02 26 January (Tuesday) 18:57 to 21:02 09 February (Tuesday) 18:48 to 20:57 24 February (Wednesday) 18:34 to 20:48 10 March (Wednesday) 18:19 to 20:38 26 March (Friday) 18:00 to 20:24 09 April (Friday) 17:43 to 20:13 24 April (Saturday) 17:27 to 20:02 08 May (Saturday) 17:15 to 19:54 24 May (Monday) 17:06 to 19:49 07 June (Monday) 17:03 to 19:48 22 June (Tuesday) 17:05 to 19:50 07 July (Wednesday) 17:10 to 19:54 21 July (Wednesday) 17:17 to 19:59 05 August (Thursday) 17:26 to 20:04 19 August (Thursday) 17:24 to 20:08 04 September (Saturday) 17:43 to 20:11 18 September (Saturday) 17:50 to 20:14 03 October (Sunday) 18:59 to 20:17 17 October (Sunday) 18:07 to 20:21 02 November (Tuesday) 18:19 to 20:27 16 November (Tuesday) 18:30 to 20:34 01 December (Wednesday) 20:05 to 20:44 16 December (Thursday) 18:53 to 20:53 31 December (Friday) 19:00 to 21:00 Pradosha vrata is a vrata (Fast) of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. The Pradosha worship is done in the evening twilight on the Trayodashi of both lunar fortnights (Shukla and Krishna Paksha). These are the 13th tithi, or lunar days, from the New Moon (Amavasya) and Full Moon (Purnima). The performance of the vrata involves a fast followed by a vigil. A bath is taken one hour before sunset and Lord Shiva, Mother Parvati, Shree Ganesha, Lord Skanda (Muruga), and Nandi are worshipped. Following this, Lord Shiva is invoked. The Pradosha katha is read out after the formal worship is concluded. Prodosha Vrata By Shree Swami Shivananda-ji (A Few additions by Narottam Das) ALL THINGS in this vast creation function upon definite cosmic laws or laws of God. There is always a beautiful system and sound rationale governing every phenomenon and process, mundane or mystical. Just as the gross elements and physical forces operate differently under different states and conditions, so also the subtler and higher forces respond and react in the inner mystic planes, and in the purely spiritual processes like meditation, prayer, worship, etc. Therefore, you will find definite injunctions for performing certain types of worship in the morning, certain other injunctions for the midday prayers, and still others for the evening worship. Again, some observances are meant to be performed during certain phases of the moon, some when a particular star is in the ascendant, or at the time of a particular conjunction of planets. The Pradosha worship is to be done in the evening twilight on the thirteenth day of each lunar fortnight. It is the worship of Lord Shiva for victory and success in all undertakings, and the fulfilment of all your heart©s cherished desires. When you desire to obtain a favour from a superior person, don©t you naturally approach him at a moment when he is likely to be in a very pleasant frame of mind? You will perhaps see him after he has had a good dinner and is happily chatting with a friend in a hearty, expansive mood. Even so, the Hindu, especially the Hindu who is engaged in the motivated type of worship, usually selects the most pleasant aspect of God for his worship. He performs it at a time which the ancient Rishis experienced as being the most helpful and efficacious in propitiating the Deity. The Pradosha worship is based on such mystic psychology. Pradosha is the worship of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati when they both are in an extremely propitious mood. Repeatedly worsted in war by the demons, the devas approached Lord Shiva to bless them with a leader for their celestial hosts. They came to the Lord at twilight on the thirteenth day of the lunar fortnight and found him in the blissful company of his consort, Mother Parvati. Hymned and glorified by them, Lord Shiva immediately granted their prayerful request. Hence, the extreme auspiciousness of the period. The Skanda Purana relates how Sandilya Muni prescribed this Vrata to a certain Brahmin lady.