Tithi: Shukla Chaturthi
Paksha: Shukla Paksha (Waxing Phase of the Moon)
Month: Pausha
🙏 Pratipada Shraddha Significance
Although Shraddha rituals are generally performed during the Pitru Paksha period, some communities observe monthly Pratipada Shraddha to honor their ancestors on the first lunar day (Pratipada) after Amavasya. It is believed that performing Shraddha brings ancestral blessings, removes family obstacles, and ensures harmony within the lineage (kul shanti).
Devotees perform Tarpan (water offering), Pinda daan (offering rice balls), and prayers for the peace of departed souls.
🌺 Vinayaka Chaturthi Significance
The Shukla Paksha Chaturthi of every lunar month is celebrated as Vinayaka Chaturthi, dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.
It is a day of devotion, purification, and fresh beginnings.
🌼 Rituals and Puja Vidhi
- Devotees wake up early, bathe, and worship Lord Ganesha using modak, durva grass, red flowers, and incense.
- Fasting or eating only fruits and milk (phalahar) is common.
- Chanting the mantra “Om Gan Ganapataye Namah” removes hurdles and grants wisdom.
- Reading or listening to the Vinayaka Chaturthi Vrat Katha is also auspicious.
🕊️ Spiritual Meaning
On this day, two energies align — ancestral gratitude (Pratipada Shraddha) and new beginnings (Vinayaka Chaturthi). Honoring both ensures a balanced life path — one rooted in gratitude for the past and open to divine blessings for the future.
Panchang Official