Varad Kund Chaturthi 2024

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Chaturthi Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Magh month is celebrated as "Varad Kund Chaturthi". This Chaturthi is also known by other names such as Til, Kund, Vinayak etc. Lord Ganesha is worshiped on this day. Varad Chaturthi blesses one with all the happiness in the world. The term "Varad" represents the blessings of Lord Ganesha.

Lord Shri Ganesh is also addressed by the name Varad as he always blesses his devotees with happiness and prosperity. He also relieves them of fear. Chaturthi Tithi is particularly important for Lord Ganesh’s Puja. Therefore, the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on Chaturthi Tithi every month. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great enthusiasm throughout India. Chaturthi is called by different names. Chaturthi of Shukla Paksha is also called Varad Vinayaki Chaturthi. It is very auspicious to worship Shri Ganesh on Chandrodaya Vyapini Chaturthi.

Varad Kund Chaturthi Muhurta

This year, the festival of Kund Chaturthi during the Shukla Paksha of Magh month will be celebrated on 13 February 2024.

  • Chaturthi Date Starts - 12 Monday February 2024.
  • Chaturthi Date Ends - 13 Tuesday February 2024.

Kund Chaturthi Puja Procedure

Lord Shri Ganesh is worshiped with gaiety and enthusiasm on Varad Kund Chaturthi. The rituals to be observed for the Chaturthi Tithi fast should be followed before the Chaturthi Tithi. On the day of Puja i.e. on Chaturthi Tithi one must wake up early in the morning and meditate on Shri Ganesh Ji's name. After taking a bath and finishing all chores, one must wear new and neat clothes. Chanting Lord Ganesha’s name has special importance on this day. The idol of Lord Ganesha should be placed at the place where Kund Chaturthi Puja is to be conducted. Ganesha should be offered Akshat, Roli, flower garland, fragrance, incense stick, Durva, Laddus etc. The Puja procedure is as follows -

The area where Puja is to be conducted should be purified by cleaning with Ganga water. This is considered very auspicious. Lord Ganpati idol or picture should be placed on the cleansed area.
Lord Ganesha likes Durva hence the usage of Durva in Lord Ganesha’s Puja is very important. One should chant the Mantra of 'Om Gan Ganpataye Namah', while offering Durva to Lord Ganesha.
After this, you should sit on an Asan and worship Lord Shree Ganesh.

  • Aarti should be done by lighting a lamp of camphor, ghee.
  • Lord Ganesha has a liking for Laddus so Laddus made of sesame and jaggery should be offered and this Prasad should be distributed among all.
  • If a devotee is fasting, he/she should worship Lord Ganesha again in the evening. Fasting involves consuming only fruits. After the evening pooja, the devotee must offer food to a Bhramin and only then he/she can consume food.
  • Charity done on this day gives results manifold. Therefore, it is ideal to donate items like warm clothes, blankets, jaggery, sesame etc. on this day.
  • When one follows the right procedure for Puja, he/she is blessed with an ever increasing happiness and prosperity in the family.

Chaturthi fast story

While some stories are related to Lord Ganesha’s birth, some others are related to the immense grace Lord Ganesha has shown to his devotees by blessing them wholeheartedly. One such story is as follows:

As per Shiva Purana, Lord Ganesha was born on the Chaturthi Tithi of Shukla Paksha hence Chaturthi Tithi is celebrated as his date of birth. On this day special Poojas are organized for Lord Ganesha. According to a belief, once Goddess Parvati wanted to go for a bath. To ensure no one comes in she creates a child and asks that child to guard the door and not let anyone in.

After a while, Lord Shiva arrives. The child, however, doesn’t let him inside as per Goddess Parvati’s orders. Lord Shiva loses his temper and cuts off the child's head as penance. When Goddess Parvati sees this, she gets very upset. She asks Lord Shiva to bring life back into the child. Lord Shiva fixes that head of an elephant on the body of the child. This is how the child came to be known as Ganesha. The child comes to be known as Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva’s son.

Why was the Moon cursed?

One should not see the Moon from the beginning till the end of Ganesh Chaturthi. As per mythological stories Lord Ganesha had cursed the Moon. As per the curse, anyone who sees the Moon on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi will face stigma from society. Hence it is said that one must avoid seeing the moon on this day. It is said those who want relief from this Dosha and Mithiya Dosha should observe the Varad Ganesh Chaturthi Fast.

Once the moon, on seeing Ganesha’s mixed form i.e. head of an elephant and body of human laughs on him. This annoys Ganesh ji and he curses Chandra Dev. He says "Chandradev you are very proud of you, so I curse you that your form will not always be like this and it will keep changing". Due to Ganesha's curse, Chandra’s brightness keeps fading and its form also keeps changing.

On hearing the curse, Moon regrets his crime and apologizes to Ganesha. Ganesha then tells the Moon that the curse cannot be eradicated completely but the effect may lessen if you fast on Chaturthi you will go back to your original size. The Moon observes the fast as suggested. As a result, Chandra decreases in Krishna Paksha and then starts increasing in Shukla Paksha. Chandra Darshan is possible on Chaturthi Tithi only after fasting on Chaturthi Tithi. Devotees who observe fast on this day take food only after worshipping Chandra.