Today i.e Mon 25 April 2016 is Sankatahara Chaturthi - an auspicious day dedicated to Lord GaneshaSource : https://www.epanchang.com/sankatahara-chaturthiSankatahara Chaturthi is an auspicious day dedicated to Lord Ganesha.
It is celebrated every month [lunar], on the fourth day of the waning phase of the moon [Krishna Paksham].
It is the fourth day after the full moon day.If the chaturthi falls on a tuesday, it is considered even more auspicious.
Fasting on Sankatahara Chaturthi
Fasting on Sankatahara Chaturthi is considered auspicious and beneficial. It is believed that if we take up this vratam and continue it for one year, fasting on all the Sankatahara Chaturthi days, culminating the vratam by performing the "Maha Ganapathi Homam", all difficult tasks in life will be completed and all obstacles removed from our life.
Even though any day could be a good day to pray to Lord Ganesha, sankatahara chaturthi is supposed to be the best day for the sankatahara chaturthi vratham.
Sankatahara literally means breaking or removing of sorrow. So, it is believed that fasting on sankatahara chaturthi will bring a speedy end to your sorrows. Also, it is believed that if one looks at the moon on a waxing phase moon on a chathurti, he will fall from grace and that performing the chaturthi vratham will help him regain his status.
It is also believed that performing the vratham every month on the chaturthi day will bring all happiness and wealth ani the family and remove all obstacles. There are various other good things attributed to the chaturthi vratham or fasting, such as getting relief from long standing sickness, improvement in education, sharp intelligence, long life, relief from sani dosha and so on. Every month puja on the Sankatahara Chaturthi is performed and Lord Ganesha is worshipped under different forms every month. On Sankatahara Chaturthi, Lord Ganesha blesses his devotees with his presence on Earth at the time of the celebrations.