When is Varad Chaturthi in 2024 and its importance.

The Chaturthi Tithi of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Sawan is celebrated as "Varad Chaturthi". This year, Varad Chaturthi will be celebrated on 08 August 2024. Lord Ganesha is worshiped on this day. Varad Chaturthi means blessing by Lord Ganesha. Ganesh ji is called by many names like Vinayaka, Vighanhartha.

The Chaturthi Tithi of each month is related to Lord Ganesha. Just like Lord Ganesha has different names, each Chaturthi has a different name. The Chaturthi of Sawan month is also known as Varad Vinayaki Chaturthi. It is very auspicious to worship Shri Ganesh on Varad Chaturthi at noon and midnight.

Varad Chaturthi Puja Vidhi

Varad Chaturthi Puja is primarily done in the afternoon as it has a special significance. Lord Ganesha’s idol should be set at the place of Puja of Varad Chaturthi. The devotee must resolve to observe a fast the entire day. Ganesha should be offered Akshat, Roli, Atar, flower garland, Durva, Laddu etc.

• While offering Durva to Ganesha, one must chant ऊँ गं गणपतयै नम:
• Aarti should be done by lighting a lamp of Ghee and camphor.
• Bhog should be offered to Lord Ganesha and should be distributed to everyone as Prasad.
• One can consume fruits in the evening while observing the fast. Lord Ganesha should be worshipped again in the evening at the time of consuming fruits.
• After the pooja, food should be served to the Bhramin and only after that food can be consumed by the devotee.

Varad Chaturthi fast story

Once when Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati are spending leisure time in the Himalayas, Mata Parvati asks Lord Shiva to play Chaucer. Shiva starts playing Chaucer to please Mata Paravati. However, it becomes difficult to arrive at a decision on who is winning. Also, no one present there was willing to side either of them. As a solution, Lord Shiva decides to incarnate a child from weed and grass. The incarnated child will then decide who is winning the Chaucer.

Parvati wins in the game, but when the child was asked, the child says that Lord Shiva has won. On hearing these words, Goddess Parvati gets angry and curses the effigy boy to stay in the mud forever. The child then seeks forgiveness saying he did not do anything deliberately. On seeing the child cry, Mother Parvati’s heart melts and she suggests a way to get freedom from the curse.

Mata Parvati says ‘A year from today, Nag Kanya girls will come here for worship on Chaturthi. Follow the Ganesh Chaturthi Puja Vidhi and observe the fast as suggested by them. This will relieve you of your curse.’ As stated by Mata Parvati exactly after a year the Nag Kanya girls come to that place on Varad Chaturthi. The child follows all the Puja Vidhi procedures as suggested by Nag Kanya girls and also observes the Chaturthi fast. On doing so he gets relieved from Mata Parvati’s curse.

Perform Chandra Puja on Varad Chaturthi but avoid Chandra Darshan

Moon should not be seen from the beginning till the end of Varad Chaturthi Tithi. It is believed that Chandra Dev should not be seen on Chaturthi Tithi. According to mythology, the Moon was cursed by Lord Ganesha. As per the curse if anyone sees the Moon on Chaturthi Tithi, then it will be stained. For this reason, Chandra Darshan should be avoided on this day. It is said that Lord Krishna also had to bear the impact of this curse. This, however, is more relevant for the Chaturthi Tithi that falls in Bhadrapad month.

Lord Krishna was falsely accused of stealing a gem named Syamantaka. Narada informs Lord Krishna that he has been falsely accused as he had seen the Moon on Chaturthi of Bhadrapad month. He further mentions that if Lord Krishna wants to get rid of this Mithya Dosha, then Lord Krishna should worship Ganesha on Chaturthi Tithi. Lord Krishna follows Narada’s advice and is freed from the Mithya Dosha curse.

Mithya Dosha Nivaran Mantra

Depending on the start and end time of Chaturthi Tithi, the Darshan of the Moon may be forbidden for two consecutive days. According to the rules of the Dharma Granth Dharmasindhu, during this Chaturthi date, Moon sighting is prohibited. According to this rule, the Moon should not be seen from before the Moon sets on Chaturthi Tithi till after rises and sets again the next day.

If for some reason a person ends up seeing the Moon then the following Mantra can be chanted to get rid of the Mithya Dosha that takes place because of Chandra Darshan on Chaturthi. Lord Shri Krishna also chanted this same Mantra:

“सिंहः प्रसेनमवधीत्सिंहो जाम्बवता हतः।
सुकुमारक मारोदीस्तव ह्येष स्यमन्तकः॥”

Chaturthi Tithi of this day is known as Kalank Chaturthi. But it does not have much effect on other Chaturthi. If the moon is seen on Ganesh Chaturthi, then measures have also been given to get rid of Mithya Dosha. This involves conducting Ganesha Puja and chanting the Ganesh Mantra.