The complete list of Sankatahara Chaturthi dates for 2026 runs from January 6 to December 26. This year the calendar also holds a rare surprise. An Adhika Masa, the Hindu leap month, falls in 2026. So devotees observe 13 vratams this year instead of the usual 12.
Three of them land on a Tuesday. That makes them Angarki Chaturthi, the most powerful day for praying to Lord Ganesha. Below you will find every date, the Hyderabad moonrise time, and the Ganesha form for each month. You will also learn how to fix the day correctly for your own city.
Sri Vyasa Pooja is an independent devotional guide. We are not the official calendar authority for any temple. So always confirm your local moonrise with a trusted panchang before you break the fast.
Sankatahara Chaturthi 2026 at a Glance
These Sankatahara Chaturthi dates repeat every lunar month, and here are the highlights before the full table:
- Total vratams in 2026: 13, because of the Adhika Masa leap month.
- First date: January 6, 2026 (Tuesday), which is an Angarki Chaturthi.
- Angarki (Tuesday) dates: January 6, May 5, and September 29.
- The fast runs from sunrise until moonrise. You break it only after sighting the moon.
- Moonrise decides the day. So the date can shift by a day between North and South India.
Sankatahara Chaturthi Dates 2026: Full Month-by-Month List
Here is the verified list of Sankatahara Chaturthi dates for the whole of 2026, cross-checked against Drik Panchang. The moonrise times shown are for Hyderabad. South Indian cities sit close together, so these timings suit most of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
| Date & Day | Ganesha Form (Vratam) | Moonrise (Hyderabad) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 6, 2026 (Tue) | Lambodara Sankashti | 9:06 PM | Angarki; also Sakat Chauth |
| Feb 5, 2026 (Thu) | Dwijapriya Sankashti | 9:30 PM | — |
| Mar 6, 2026 (Fri) | Bhalachandra Sankashti | 9:00 PM | — |
| Apr 5, 2026 (Sun) | Vikata Sankashti | 9:27 PM | — |
| May 5, 2026 (Tue) | Ekadanta Sankashti | 9:59 PM | Angarki |
| Jun 3, 2026 (Wed) | Vibhuvana Sankashti | 9:32 PM | Adhika Masa (extra month) |
| Jul 3, 2026 (Fri) | Krishnapingala Sankashti | 9:33 PM | — |
| Aug 2, 2026 (Sun) | Gajanana Sankashti | 9:20 PM | — |
| Aug 31, 2026 (Mon) | Heramba Sankashti | 8:35 PM | Also Bahula Chaturthi |
| Sep 29, 2026 (Tue) | Vighnaraja Sankashti | 8:00 PM | Angarki |
| Oct 29, 2026 (Thu) | Vakratunda Sankashti | 8:41 PM | Also Karwa Chauth |
| Nov 27, 2026 (Fri) | Ganadhipa Sankashti | 8:39 PM | — |
| Dec 26, 2026 (Sat) | Akhuratha Sankashti | 8:32 PM | — |
In plain words, the first vratam is Lambodara Sankashti on January 6. The year then closes with Akhuratha Sankashti on December 26. Moonrise drifts a little each month, so the evening puja can begin anywhere from 8:00 PM to nearly 10:00 PM across the year.
How the Sankatahara Chaturthi Dates Are Fixed Each Month
The Sankatahara Chaturthi dates follow the moon, not the English calendar. Each one falls on the Chaturthi, the fourth day of Krishna Paksha, the waning phase of the moon. In simple terms, it comes about four days after Purnima, the full-moon day. So every month has exactly one Sankatahara Chaturthi.
The Common Myth: “Chaturthi After Amavasya”
Many pages, including older versions of this one, wrongly place Sankatahara Chaturthi on the fourth day after Amavasya. That claim is not correct, and the mistake matters.
The Chaturthi after Amavasya, the new moon, is Vinayaka Chaturthi, which belongs to Shukla Paksha. Sankatahara Chaturthi always sits in Krishna Paksha after the full moon instead. Fix your fast using the wrong half of the month, and you will observe it on the wrong day.
Sankatahara Chaturthi vs Vinayaka Chaturthi
Both fall in the same lunar month, yet they are different observances. Vinayaka Chaturthi arrives in the bright half, and devotees keep it for the general worship of Ganesha. Sankatahara Chaturthi arrives in the dark half, and its whole purpose is relief from trouble.
The biggest Vinayaka Chaturthi becomes Ganesh Chaturthi in Bhadrapada, the birthday festival. The biggest Sankatahara Chaturthi is the Magha one, known in the north as Sakat Chauth. Knowing this split keeps you from mixing up two very different fasting days.
Angarki Chaturthi 2026: The Three Most Powerful Dates
When Sankatahara Chaturthi falls on a Tuesday, it becomes Angarki Chaturthi. Tradition treats it as the most rewarding day of all. In 2026, Angarki Chaturthi occurs three times: January 6, May 5, and September 29.
Many elders say a single sincere Angarki fast carries the merit of a whole year. So devotees who cannot fast monthly often save their effort for these three days. The year opens with an Angarki on January 6, so you get a strong start almost at once. Mark these three Tuesdays first if you plan to observe the vratam selectively.
Why Sankatahara Chaturthi Dates Change From City to City
The fast breaks at moonrise, so the correct day depends on when the moon rises in your town. If moonrise happens while the Chaturthi tithi still runs, that is your vratam day. The moon rises at different times across India, so two cities can observe the same vratam on different dates.
This is why a single all-India list, usually built for New Delhi, can mislead a devotee in Chennai or Vijayawada. The tithi may end before moonrise in one city and after it in another. For that reason, the list above uses Hyderabad timings, and you should still adjust a few minutes for your exact location. When in doubt, check your city’s moonrise a day ahead.
Why 2026 Has 13 Vratams Instead of 12
A normal year gives you 12 Sankatahara Chaturthis, one for each lunar month. But 2026 contains an Adhika Masa. This extra lunar month keeps the Hindu calendar aligned with the solar year, and it adds one more Chaturthi, the Vibhuvana Sankashti on June 3, 2026.
The Adhika Masa is considered highly sacred. Devotees see its extra vratam as a bonus chance for prayer. So if you count your yearly observances, include this thirteenth date rather than skip it.
How to Observe the Sankatahara Chaturthi Vratam
The vratam is simple in structure, yet it rewards discipline. Follow these steps to keep it correctly:
- Wake before sunrise, take a bath, and wear clean traditional clothes.
- Take a sankalpam, a quiet vow stating your name, gotram, and the purpose of your fast.
- Clean the puja space and place a Ganesha idol or picture.
- Offer durva grass, red flowers, modakam, and jaggery while you chant “Om Gam Ganapataye Namah”.
- Read or listen to the month’s Sankatahara Chaturthi Vrat Katha.
- Keep the fast from sunrise until moonrise.
- After the moon appears, offer arghyam of water and milk, then break the fast.
A traditional fasting diet allows only fruits, milk, and root vegetables such as potato. Many devotees also eat sabudana and peanuts, while they avoid rice, wheat, and lentils for the day. Tradition sees the moon as the ruler of the mind, so worshipping Ganesha at moonrise is said to steady the emotions while it removes obstacles.
A Quick Health Note on Fasting
A sunrise-to-moonrise fast is long. The moon also rises after 9:00 PM through much of the first half of 2026. So anyone who is pregnant, elderly, diabetic, or on medication should seek medical advice first.
This caution matters most before a strict waterless fast. A gentler fruit-and-milk fast is a valid option, and it protects your health while it keeps the spirit of the vratam intact.
The Meaning Behind Each Month’s Ganesha Form
Every Sankatahara Chaturthi honours a distinct form of Lord Ganesha, and each form brings a particular kind of relief. Lambodara, who opens the year, grants wisdom and patience. Devotees invoke Ekadanta and Vakratunda for courage and for straightening crooked situations, while Vighnaraja is the remover of blocking obstacles.
You do not need to memorise all thirteen names to benefit. Still, knowing the month’s form sharpens your sankalpam, since you can pray for the exact help that form grants. For a deeper look at its meaning and merit, read our guide on the significance of Sankatahara Chaturthi.
What Devotees Often Get Wrong
The most common mistake is eating before moonrise. Even a small snack breaks the intention of the fast, so hold off until you have seen the moon. Another frequent error is starting the puja too early, before the moon has actually risen, which weakens the ritual flow.
People also copy a North Indian date list without checking their city’s moonrise, and then observe the vratam a day off. A third slip is rushing the mantras to save time, when a short, focused, complete puja works far better. If you prefer step-by-step instructions in your mother tongue, our Sankatahara Chaturthi vratham in Telugu lays out the full method.
శుక్లాంబరధరం విష్ణుం శశివర్ణం చతుర్భుజం ।
ప్రసన్నవదనం ధ్యాయేత్ సర్వవిఘ్నోపశాంతయే ॥
Before You Begin the Vratam
The safest way to plan is simple. Note the three Angarki dates first, add the thirteenth Adhika Masa vratam on June 3, and then confirm each moonrise for your own town. Treat these Sankatahara Chaturthi dates as your master calendar, but let your local panchang have the final word on timing.
For an authoritative cross-check, the Drik Panchang Sankashti Chaturthi page lets you set your exact city. The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir Trust also publishes its own observance dates. You can also arrange a priest-guided Sankatahara Chaturthi pooja through Sri Vyasa Pooja, which suits anyone who would rather have the rituals done for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Sankatahara Chaturthi dates in 2026?
There are 13 Sankatahara Chaturthi dates in 2026. They fall on January 6, February 5, March 6, April 5, May 5, June 3, July 3, August 2, August 31, September 29, October 29, November 27, and December 26. The year has an extra vratam because of the Adhika Masa leap month.
Which Sankatahara Chaturthi dates are Angarki in 2026?
Angarki Chaturthi falls on January 6, May 5, and September 29 in 2026, and each of these dates lands on a Tuesday. Angarki days are the most auspicious of the year. Many devotees fast on these three even if they skip other months.
Is Sankatahara Chaturthi after Amavasya or Purnima?
It comes after Purnima, the full moon. Sankatahara Chaturthi always falls on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha, the waning phase. The Chaturthi after Amavasya is Vinayaka Chaturthi, which is a different observance in Shukla Paksha.
Why do some calendars show a different date for my city?
Because the vratam depends on moonrise, and moonrise time varies across cities. If the moon rises while the Chaturthi tithi is still active, that is your day. A Delhi list can therefore differ by a day from the correct southern date, so always confirm the local Sankatahara Chaturthi dates for your city.
Can I drink water during the Sankatahara Chaturthi fast?
It depends on the type of fast you take. A strict nirjala fast avoids water, while a gentler phalahara fast allows water, fruit, and milk. Anyone with a health condition should choose the milder fast or consult a doctor first.
What time should I do the puja?
Perform the main puja and break your fast at moonrise, not before. In 2026 the Hyderabad moonrise ranges from about 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM depending on the month. Check the table above for your date, then adjust slightly for your own town.
What food is offered to Lord Ganesha on this day?
Modakam and laddu are the classic offerings, along with durva grass, red flowers, and jaggery. After the puja, families share the prasadam. Freshly prepared food is preferred, since it reflects sincerity in the offering.
How many Sankatahara Chaturthi vratams should I observe?
Ideally you observe all of them through the year, yet even one sincere fast carries merit. Tradition recommends completing at least 12 consecutive months for a full cycle. If that is hard, focus on the three Angarki dates in 2026 for the greatest benefit.
