Sakat Chauth
Sakat Chauth is an important festival celebrated on the Shukla-paksh Chaturthi of Magh month (Jan-Feb) when mothers fast for the well-being of their children. Lord Ganesha is worshipped on this day. In many places in North India Devi Sankata (the trouble-removing form of the Goddess) is worshipped, so the festival is also referred to as Sankanti Chaturthi.
Legends
Certain stories are narrated while performing the above rituals. The story related to Devi Sankata goes thus-
Once upon a time there was a king and his queen. They were childless, and eventually the people began demanding the king to marry again. The queen had a personal maid who was more like a friend and was quite clever. She falsely told the king that the queen is expecting. The king as well as his people were overjoyed to hear this. The maid further lied that the queen has undertaken a vow to beget a son, so nobody can see her till the child is born. Nine months passed, and the queen grew scared. The maid however assured her that she has everything under control. Soon enough she had it announced that the queen has given birth to a son. The king rushed to see his son, but she said that you can only see him on chhathi (the sixth day). On sixth day she postponed it to suryadarshan, and so on and so forth- annprashan, upnayan, and yagyopavit. Then she asked the king to prepare for his son’s wedding. The king was perplexed but agreed and found a bride. The queen was scared beyond her wits- where am I going to bring a son from? But the maid again asked her not to worry. As the king prepared for his son’s wedding procession, the maid sculpted a life- size statue from hundredweight jaggery and hundredweight sesame, and placed it in the palanquin. On the way to the bride’s place, there was a temple dedicated to Devi Sankata. The procession was asked to halt and rest there. The scent of sesame and jaggery attracted Devi Sankata who came there and ate the entire statue. Then, as She was leaving, the maid approached Her and demanded a real son in return for the sesame son She has devoured. The Devi was compelled. She asked the maid - go look in the back of the temple, some children are playing, pick any you like. The maid swiftly chose a beautiful lad and placed him in the palanquin. At the wedding, when the king saw the boy,he stood mesmerized by his beauty, and thought- well that is why the queen hid him for so long, so he doesn’t attract evil eye.
When the wedding procession returned with the bride, the queen had locked herself in her room, waiting for the king to announce her death penalty for concocting such a lie. The maid then went and told her how Devi Sankata had blessed her with a son. The elated queen welcomed her son and daughter-in- law, thanked the Devi, and offered hundredweight sesame-jaggery at Her temple.
Hence, Devi Sankata is worshipped and prayed for begetting children and for their well-being.
Another story related with this auspicious day is that of Lord Ganesha-
Once upon a time there was an old lady who was Lord Ganesha’s great devotee. She had a son and a daughter-in-law. Happy with her devotion, Lord Ganesha appeared in front of her and promised to fulfil any wish she’d ask for. The lady was perplexed because she really had no desire. Ganesha advised her to consult her son and his wife. The son wanted great wealth while the daughter-in-law pleaded for a son. Since the lady could only ask for one wish, she said to Ganesha- grant me that I see my grandson drinking milk from gold bowl in a house well-endowed with wealth and family. Smiling at her wit, Lord Ganesha smiled and granted her boon. May Lord Ganesha grant all his devotees their wish like he did the old lady. Jai Ganesh!!
Author Ms Rati is an ardent devotee of Sri Krishna.