What is Sakaṭ (Tilkuṭ) Cauth, and how is it different from the monthly Saṅkaṣṭī?

it is the Saṅkaṣṭī of Māgha, the most important of the year, kept by mothers for their children with sesame-jaggery offerings to Gaṇeśa.

Every month, the kṛṣṇa pakṣa caturthī is Saṅkaṣṭī (Saṅkaṣṭa-haraṇa) Caturthī, kept for Gaṇeśa and broken after moonrise. The one in Māgha is the most celebrated, especially in UP, Bihar, Rajasthan and MP, where it is called Sakaṭ Cauth, Tilkuṭ Cauth or Māghī Cauth. Mothers keep it for the long life and protection of their children.

Til (sesame) and jaggery are pounded into tilkuṭ or made into laḍḍūs; Gaṇeśa and Sakaṭ Mātā are worshipped, the kathā is read (often the story of the potter’s kiln and the child saved by Gaṇeśa), and at moonrise water is offered to the moon with til and durva. The fast is broken with the tilkuṭ prasāda.

Sesame and jaggery suit the cold of Māgha, and sharing them with neighbours is part of the warmth of the day.

Māgha kṛṣṇa caturthī; break at moonrise · Source: Gaṇeśa Purāṇa tradition; folk kathā

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