Sankashti Chaturthi 2026 — Dates
Next Sankashti Chaturthi: Karwa Chauth / Vakratunda Sankashti on Thursday, 29 October 2026.
A free email before every Sankashti Chaturthi, with timings for your city.
Sankashti Chaturthi is the monthly fast for Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles ("sankat"), kept on the fourth day (Chaturthi) of the waning moon. The fast is broken only after sighting the moon at night, so the date is the day on which Chaturthi is current at moonrise. A Sankashti falling on a Tuesday is Angarki Sankashti, considered especially auspicious; the Sankashti of Magha is Sakat Chauth, and that of Kartika coincides with Karwa Chauth.
Sankashti Chaturthi dates in 2026
| Date | Name |
|---|---|
| 6 Jan 2026 (Tue) | Angarki Sakat Chauth (Lambodara Sankashti) |
| 5 Feb 2026 (Thu) | Phalguna Sankashti Chaturthi |
| 6 Mar 2026 (Fri) | Chaitra Sankashti Chaturthi |
| 5 Apr 2026 (Sun) | Vaishakha Sankashti Chaturthi |
| 5 May 2026 (Tue) | Angarki Jyeshtha Sankashti Chaturthi |
| 3 Jun 2026 (Wed) | Adhik Jyeshtha Sankashti Chaturthi |
| 3 Jul 2026 (Fri) | Ashadha Sankashti Chaturthi |
| 2 Aug 2026 (Sun) | Shravana Sankashti Chaturthi |
| 31 Aug 2026 (Mon) | Bhadrapada Sankashti Chaturthi |
| 29 Sep 2026 (Tue) | Angarki Ashwin Sankashti Chaturthi |
| 29 Oct 2026 (Thu) | Karwa Chauth / Vakratunda Sankashti |
| 27 Nov 2026 (Fri) | Margashirsha Sankashti Chaturthi |
| 26 Dec 2026 (Sat) | Pausha Sankashti Chaturthi |
Dates and parana times are for New Delhi (IST), as used by most published calendars. In other cities a date can occasionally differ by a day — check the panchang for your city.
How to observe Sankashti Chaturthi
- Bathe early and take a sankalp (resolve) to keep the fast for Lord Ganesha.
- Fast through the day — many take only fruits, milk, sabudana or peanuts; some keep a stricter fast.
- In the evening, worship Ganesha with durva grass, red flowers, modak or ladoo and a lamp, and read the Sankashti vrat katha.
- After moonrise, offer arghya (water with sandalwood, rice and flowers) to the moon.
- Break the fast after the moon puja with prasad and a simple meal.
Frequently asked questions
What is Sankashti Chaturthi?
Sankashti Chaturthi is the monthly fast for Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles ("sankat"), kept on the fourth day (Chaturthi) of the waning moon. The fast is broken only after sighting the moon at night, so the date is the day on which Chaturthi is current at moonrise. A Sankashti falling on a Tuesday is Angarki Sankashti, considered especially auspicious; the Sankashti of Magha is Sakat Chauth, and that of Kartika coincides with Karwa Chauth.
When is the next Sankashti Chaturthi?
Karwa Chauth / Vakratunda Sankashti is on Thursday, 29 October 2026.
How many Sankashti Chaturthi days are there in 2026?
13 Sankashti Chaturthi dates in 2026: 6 Jan (Tue), 5 Feb (Thu), 6 Mar (Fri), 5 Apr (Sun), 5 May (Tue), 3 Jun (Wed), 3 Jul (Fri), 2 Aug (Sun), 31 Aug (Mon), 29 Sep (Tue), 29 Oct (Thu), 27 Nov (Fri), 26 Dec (Sat).
What time should I break the Sankashti fast?
After moonrise in your own city, once you have offered arghya to the moon. Moonrise can differ by half an hour or more between cities, so check the local time on the MyPujaWorld panchang.
What is Angarki Sankashti?
A Sankashti Chaturthi that falls on a Tuesday (Mangalvar). It is believed to bring the blessings of all the Sankashtis of the year and draws large crowds to Ganesha temples such as Siddhivinayak in Mumbai.