Angarki Chaturthi 2026 Tomorrow: Auspicious Ganesha Fast Falls On Tuesday

Rare Tuesday Observance

Devotees across Maharashtra and other parts of India are set to observe Angarki Chaturthitomorrow, May 5, a day considered the most powerful of all Sankashti Ganesha fasting days. The Chaturthi Tithi begins at 5:24 AM on Tuesday, aligning with the sunrise to create an especially sacred window for worship.

According to the Hindu calendar, this particular Chaturthi falls during the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) after the full moon. What makes it special this year is the combination—a Tuesday, or Mangalwar, which is believed to double the spiritual benefits since the day is ruled by Lord Mangal (Mars).

Fasting Rituals And Timings

The Angarki vrat is not a casual fast. Observers typically begin at sunrise—5:55 AM in Ujjain, the reference point for panchang calculations—and maintain it until moonrise. Tonight, the moon is expected to rise around 10:20 PM, meaning devotees will go nearly 16 hours without grains.

“Devotees worship an idol of Lord Ganesha made from mud, copper, or even gold,” explains a priest at Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai. The idol is offered ‘Modak’, the deity’s preferred sweet, following strict ritual protocols. Many families prepare sabudana khichdi as a permissible alternative for those doing a partial fast, though purists avoid all grains.

Significance Rooted In Legend

The term ‘Angarki’ comes from Sanskrit, meaning “red like burned coal”—a direct reference to Lord Mars, or Angaraka. Religious texts including the Ganesha Purana describe how Lord Ganesha blessed Mars on this very day. Consequently, observers receive the combined blessings of both deities.

A senior priest from Pune’s Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple noted, “This is a day of deliverance. Those keeping the fast are believed to face no major obstacles and live contented lives.”

The occurrence happens roughly once every six months. The previous Angarki Chaturthi in 2026 fell on January 6, making tomorrow’s observance the second and final one for the year.

Evening Moon Worship

Unlike regular Ekadashis or other fasts, the Angarki vrat concludes only after moon sighting. Devotees offer ‘aargya’ to the moon god using sandalwood paste, rice, and flowers before breaking their fast. Reciting the Ganapati Atharvashesha before moonrise is considered highly rewarding.

Local authorities in areas with prominent Ganesha temples—especially in Maharashtra’s Pune, Mumbai, and Nagpur regions—expect increased footfall from late evening. “We have made additional arrangements for darshan between 7 PM and midnight,” a temple trust member in Dadar confirmed.

What Not To Do

While fasting, consuming betel leaves, nuts, or tobacco is strictly prohibited—equivalent to breaking the vrat entirely. Drinking excessive fluids is also discouraged. The fast is broken only with pure vegetarian food after the puja concludes.

For those unable to keep a strict fast, partial fasting with fruits and sabudana is permitted, though priests emphasise that the full vrat yields the same benefit as observing Sankashti Chaturthi every single month of the year.

Tomorrow’s Chaturthi Tithi extends until 7:51 AM on May 6, but for most devotees, the fast will conclude Tuesday night after moonrise.