Lord Ganesha

Wake before sunrise, take a purifying bath. Resolve to observe the Sankashti Chaturthi vrat. The fast begins at sunrise — consume only water and fruits if needed.

Place the Ganesha idol or image on a clean altar. Offer kumkum, akshat, and a few durva blades. Light incense and a diya. This is a brief morning worship before the main evening puja.

Spend the day in devotion. Read Ganesha Purana or Ganesha Atharva Shirsha. Chant the Ganesh Beej mantra on a mala (rosary). Maintain a sattvic and pious mindset throughout the day.

Take a fresh bath in the evening. Sit before the altar and take the formal sankalpa by holding water and akshat in the right palm, stating the tithi, purpose, and deity.

Perform the five-fold worship: Gandha (red sandalwood paste), Pushpa (red flowers and 21 durva blades offered one by one), Dhupa (incense), Dipa (ghee lamp), and Naivedya (modak). Each durva blade is offered with "Om Gam Ganapataye Namah".

Chant the Ganesh Gayatri mantra 108 times using a rudraksha or crystal mala. Follow with the Vakratunda Mahakaya shloka 11 times. Maintain focus on Ganesha's form during the japa.

Read or listen to the Sankashti Chaturthi Vrat Katha. Each month has a different katha associated with a specific Ganesha form. The katha narrates how Ganesha removed the obstacles of devotees.

Perform the aarti of Lord Ganesha with camphor and ghee lamp. Sing "Sukhkarta Dukhharta" or "Jai Ganesh Deva". Ring the bell and offer the flame to all family members.

Wait for moonrise. Once the moon is visible, offer arghya (water offering) to the moon with akshat, flowers, and kumkum. Chant "Om Somaya Namah" while offering arghya. Sight the moon and bow.

After sighting the moon and offering arghya, break the fast by consuming modak prasad first, followed by other sattvic food. Share the prasad with family members.