By Pt. Amitabh Sharma
On Sakat Chauth 2026 strengthen children’s health, safety and future with Shivling worship, Ganesha puja, tilkuta prasad and special abhishek.

The Krishna Chaturthi of the month of Magh, known as Sakat Chauth, Sankat Chauth and Tilkuta Chauth, is a day filled with deep emotional and spiritual meaning for mothers. In the year 2026, this vrat will be observed on 6 January, when mothers keep a strict fast for the long life, good health and freedom from obstacles for their children. Sakat Chauth is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, yet the worship of the entire Shiva family on this day is regarded as especially fruitful.
According to the Hindu panchang, the fast of Sakat Chauth is observed on the Krishna Chaturthi tithi of the Magh month. In 2026, this sacred observance will fall on Tuesday 6 January. On this day, women keep a strict fast from morning, often as nirjala or with strong discipline and they break the fast only after offering Arghya to the Moon at night.
The core feeling behind this fast is linked with the long life, sound health and obstacle free future of the child. It is believed that Lord Ganesha removes difficulties from the path of the children and with the combined grace of Mother Sakat and the Shiva family, crises of childhood, obstacles in education, blocks in career and sudden misfortunes gradually become lighter.
Sakat Chauth is also known as Tilkuta Chauth because on this day the special offerings and charity of sesame and jaggery carry great importance.
The Sakat Chauth fast is dedicated mainly to Lord Ganesha. At the same time, from the traditional point of view, worship without the grace of the whole Shiva family is not seen as complete. Lord Ganesha is himself the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Because of this, the worship of the Shivling along with Lord Ganesha is considered very auspicious on Sakat Chauth. When a mother worships Lord Ganesha and offers special items on the Shivling, it is believed that her child receives blessings from Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha together. This threefold grace becomes a strong foundation for the physical, mental and spiritual protection of the child.
If on Sakat Chauth 2026, along with the worship of Lord Ganesha, certain specific offerings are made to the Shivling with faith, many difficulties related to the children can begin to ease. Every offering has a symbolic meaning and inner message.
Bilva leaves are considered very dear to Lord Shiva. They are also seen as symbols of balance in the three gunas, three times and threefold divinity. Shami leaves on the other hand are dear to Lord Ganesha.
On Sakat Chauth it is recommended to offer eleven bilva leaves and eleven shami leaves on the Shivling. The number eleven is seen as a sign of focus and strong resolve. This offering is believed to help reduce unnecessary anger in the child and to guide the mind towards the right direction.
Bilva leaves symbolise the calming of inner disturbances and shami leaves express balance and restraint in the midst of challenges. In this way, the offering can become a blessing of inner peace and wisdom for the child.
On Sakat Chauth, performing abhishek of the Shivling with raw milk and black sesame is especially advised for the health and safety of the child. Milk symbolises purity, nourishment and the gentle strength of motherhood. Black sesame is associated with the removal of negative karma, protection from harmful influences and shielding from the evil eye.
If a child often falls ill, appears to be affected quickly by the evil eye or has low immunity, then abhishek of the Shivling with raw milk and black sesame on Sakat Chauth is regarded as very beneficial. After this abhishek, white flowers are offered on the Shivling and a quiet prayer is made for the child’s health, mental steadiness and protection.
This practice is seen as supportive not only on the physical level but also for easing subtle negative effects and disturbances around the child.
Offering sugarcane juice on the Shivling on Sakat Chauth is linked with the removal of financial obstacles and career related blocks from the life of the child. Sugarcane stands for sweetness, the fruit of sincere effort and enduring prosperity.
When sugarcane juice is offered on the Shivling, it becomes a prayer that financial hurdles in the child’s life, difficulties in getting suitable work after education and repeated hindrances in career may gradually clear. This remedy is meaningful for parents who feel concern about the economic future and professional stability of their children.
Durva grass is a very dear offering in the worship of Lord Ganesha. On Sakat Chauth it is recommended to place twenty one durva garlands either on the idol of Ganesha near the Shivling or directly on the Shivling. The number twenty one has a special place in Ganesha related mantras and sankalpas.
This offering expresses the wish that the child’s intelligence becomes sharp, memory improves and the chances of success in competitive examinations become stronger. For children who work hard yet do not receive results in proportion to their effort, the remedy of durva garlands is seen as very supportive. It helps to strengthen focus, steadiness and the ability to take right decisions.
The Sakat Chauth fast does not rest only on offerings. It stands on the discipline, devotion and sincerity of the entire day.
The Sakat Chauth fast is not considered complete until Arghya is offered to the Moon at night. The mother keeps a vrata through the day and when the Moon becomes clearly visible in the sky, she offers water to the Moon with a peaceful mind.
Milk and sesame are mixed in the Arghya water, which is regarded as auspicious. Sesame stands for the removal of sin and protection, milk stands for calmness and purity. While offering this Arghya, the mother remembers the name of the child inwardly and prays for a healthy, safe and beautiful future.
Sakat Chauth is also called Tilkuta Chauth. On this day a special prasad made from sesame and jaggery is prepared which is known as tilkuta. Tilkuta combines the qualities of sesame and jaggery, which together symbolise reduction of past negativity, peace in planetary influences and sweetness in life.
This prasad is first offered to Lord Ganesha and Mother Sakat. Later it is distributed among the family, children and those in need. The mother also takes this prasad with her fruit based meal or after breaking the fast at night.
Tilkuta is closely linked to the tradition of sesame offerings in the month of Magh. It is treated as a sign of stability, warmth and graceful planetary support in family life.
To complete the observance of Sakat Chauth, listening to or reading the katha of Sakat Mata and Lord Ganesha is considered essential. The narration makes the purpose of the fast clearer in the heart and strengthens faith and patience.
The episodes in the katha remind the listener that a family that holds on to devotion, right effort and patience in difficult times finally moves beyond crisis. Through this story, the mother feels more deeply that her prayer and vow are guarded by a higher protection.
Sakat Chauth 2026 offers a special opportunity to all parents who long for a safe, healthy and successful life for their children. The nirjala fast, combined worship of Shiva and Ganesha, offerings of bilva leaves, shami leaves, milk, sesame, sugarcane juice and durva garlands on the Shivling, the prasad of tilkuta and the Arghya to the Moon, together create a powerful spiritual practice.
The influence of such a practice is not confined to one night. When observed with sincerity, this vrat can work subtly on the long term future of the child. As the mother completes this fast with full feeling, her fear begins to soften and a sense of trust, balance and inner strength grows. This quiet strength can shape the child’s health, decisions and career in a gentle yet enduring way.
When will Sakat Chauth 2026 be observed and on which date is the fast kept
Sakat Chauth 2026 will be observed in the month of Magh on the Krishna Chaturthi tithi. This sacred date falls on 6 January 2026 and on this day mothers keep the fast for the wellbeing and happiness of their children.
For which purposes is the Sakat Chauth fast observed
The fast is mainly kept for the long life, good health and freedom from obstacles for the child. With the grace of Lord Ganesha and Mother Sakat, it is believed that crises, accidents and obstacles related to education or career become lighter in the life of the child.
What are the benefits of offering bilva leaves and shami leaves on the Shivling on Sakat Chauth
Offering eleven bilva leaves and eleven shami leaves on the Shivling on Sakat Chauth is believed to reduce anger in the child and support right direction in thoughts. Bilva leaves symbolise calming of inner disturbances and shami leaves stand for balanced strength in the midst of life’s struggles.
What is the effect of performing abhishek of the Shivling with milk and black sesame
For a child who often suffers from illness or seems affected by the evil eye, abhishek of the Shivling with raw milk and black sesame on Sakat Chauth is considered helpful. This practice is associated with reduction of illness, easing of subtle negative influence and increased protection for the child.
Why are moon sighting and tilkuta prasad treated as essential in Sakat Chauth
The Sakat Chauth fast is considered complete only after offering Arghya to the Moon. Mixing milk and sesame in the Arghya water is linked with calming lunar imbalances. Tilkuta prepared from sesame and jaggery is offered to Lord Ganesha and then taken as prasad. It symbolises sesame offerings of the Magh month, planetary peace and increased sweetness in life.
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