Lord Sankata Nivarini Chaturti August 2011 date – Sankat Chauth or Sankashta Chaturthi Vrat for Ganesha

Sankata Nivarini Chaturti, or Sankashta Chauth, is a monthly fast dedicated to Ganesha in a Hindu lunar month. Sankata Nivarini Chaturti Vrat August 2011 date is August 17. Moon rise is at 9:04 PM. Sankat Chaturthi falls during the waning phase of the moon – fourth day after the full moon (Poornima).

A day-long fasting is observed by Ganesh devotees on the day. The fast begins at sunrise and ends after evening puja or after sighting of the moon. Ganesha Temples conduct special pujas on the day.

Ganesha is known as Pillayar in Tamil Culture and the day is also referred as Pillayar Sankatahara Chaturthi.

The importance of Sankat Chauth Vrata was explained by Lord Krishna to Yudhishtira, the eldest of the Pandavas. It is also found in the Narasimha Purana and Bhavishaya Purana.

Observing Sankata Nivarini Chaturthi is said to bring wealth, peace, happiness and fulfillment of desires.

Lord Moonrise Time Today July 18 2011 Chandrodaya Time

Chandrodaya or Moonrise Time Today – July 18, 2011 – in India is between 9:00 PM and 9:30 PM – India Standard Time. The time in Maharashtra (Mumbai - Pune) is at 9:21 PM. The chandrodaya or moonrise time is chosen to end the Ganesh Sankashti Chaturthi Fasting.

The time in other Indian cities are: Bangalore – 8:54 PM

Delhi – 9:09 PM

Indore – 9:02 PM

Kolkata – 8:21 PM

Chennai – 8:50 PM

Moonrise time is chosen to break the fast on Sankashti Chaturthi day.

Moonrise Time Today July 18, 2011 – Chandrodaya Time

Lord Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha Moon Kartik ki Chauth Satyavan and Savitri Story

Karva Chauth 2011 Date, Karvachauth festival vrat katha, Karwa Chauth moon

Karva Chauth 2011 Date, Karvachauth festival vrat katha, Karwa Chauth moon. Karwa Chauth 2010 date is October 26. KarwaChauth is a fast observed by married Hindu women seeking the longevity, well-being and prosperity of their husbands.

Karwa chauth comes nine days before Diwali on ‘kartik ki chauth’, on 4th day of the new moon immediately after Dusshera, in the month of ‘Karthik’. Karva Chauth is an annual one-day festival celebrated by Hindu and some Sikh women in North India and parts of Pakistan in which married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for the safety and longevity of their husbands. The fast is observed in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Indian Punjab, Rajasthan, Western Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. The festival falls on the fourth day after the full moon, in the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Kartik, following the Autumnal Equinox. Sometimes, unmarried women observe the fast for their fiances or desired husbands.

The Legend of Karva

There was a woman named Karva, who was deeply devoted to her husband. Her intense love and dedication towards him gave her shakti (spiritual power). While bathing at a river, her husband was caught by a crocodile. Karva bound the crocodile with a cotton yarn and asked Yama (the god of death) to send the crocodile to hell. Yama refused. Karva threatened to curse Yama and destroy him. Yama, afraid of being cursed by “Pati-vrat” (devoted) wife, sent the crocodile to hell and blessed Karva’s husband with long life. Karva and her husband enjoyed many years of wedded bliss. To this day, Karva Chauth is celebrated with great faith and belief.

The Story of Satyavan and Savitri

When Lord Yama, came to procure Satyavan’s soul, Savitri begged him to grant him life. When he refused, she stopped eating and drinking and followed Yama who carried away her dead husband. Yama said that she could ask for any other boon except for the life of her husband. Savitri asked that she be blessed with children. Yama agreed. Being a “Pati-Vrat” (devoted) wife, Savitri would never let any other man be the father of her children. Yama was left with no other choice but to restore Savitri’s husband to life.