Muruga, also known as Skanda, Vadivela, Shanmukha and Subramanian, is widely worshipped in South India, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa and Sri Lanka especially by Tamilians and Malayalis. In North India, Muruga is known as Kartik or Kartikeya.
Fasting on Sashti is considered highly beneficial and some devotees observe a complete fast for 24 hours.
There are two Sashti fasting dates in a month one each during the waxing phase of moon and another during the waning phase of moon. Most devotees fast during the Sashti falling during waxing phase of moon.