Krishna Chhathi 2024: Today’s Krishna Chhathi and Amba Chaudas Alignment – Rituals and Significance

September begins with a unique confluence of two important Hindu festivals: Krishna Chhathi and Amba Chauthas. Both are celebrated on September 1, 2024, and hold significant spiritual value. Let’s delve into the importance of these festivals and how you can observe them to enhance the auspiciousness of the day.

Amba Chauthas 2024

Amba Chauthas is a prominent Hindu festival celebrated on the Chaturdashi (14th day) of the Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the moon) in the Bhadrapada month. Also known as Amba Chaturdashi, this festival is dedicated to Goddess Amba, a form of Goddess Durga. The festival is particularly prevalent in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Significance: Amba Chauthas honors the many forms of Goddess Amba, seeking her blessings for strength, valor, prosperity, and fortune. It is believed that worshipping Goddess Amba on this day enhances one's ability to overcome evil with good.

Rituals for Amba Chauthas:

1. Preparation: Set up a clean area and place an idol or image of Goddess Amba on a clean seat.
2. Kalash Installation: Fill a Kalash (pot) with Ganga water, roli (saffron), rice, a few coins, and a coconut. Establish the Kalash as part of the ritual.
3. Offering Clothes and Ornaments: Adorn Goddess Amba with clothes and a chunari (sari). Decorate her with sindoor (vermilion), bindis, and ornaments.
4. Perform Puja: Offer flowers, incense, lamps, sandalwood paste, and rice to the deity. Light a lamp and keep it burning throughout the ritual.
5. Naivedya and Aarti: Offer a variety of food items such as sweets and delicacies to Goddess Amba. Perform her Aarti (ritual of waving a lit lamp) and pray for blessings.
6. Chalisa Recitation: You may also recite the Durga Chalisa. After the puja, make your wishes to the deity and distribute prasadam (offerings) among family members and neighbors.

Krishna Chhathi 2024

Krishna Chhathi, also known as Laddu Gopal Chhathi, is observed on the sixth day following Lord Krishna’s birth during the Janmashtami festival. This special festival celebrates Lord Krishna in his infant form, with devotees praying for the health and longevity of their children.

Significance: Krishna Chhathi is observed with devotion to seek blessings for the well-being and long life of children. It is celebrated with reverence and affection for Lord Krishna in his infant form, Laddu Gopal.

Rituals for Krishna Chhathi:

1. Preparation: After a bath, wear clean clothes and set up a clean platform or seat for Lord Krishna’s idol or image.
2. Bathing the Idol: Bathe the infant Krishna with a mixture of curd, milk, ghee, honey, and Ganga water. You may also prepare a Panchamrit (five-nectar mixture) for this purpose.
3. Dressing and Decoration: Dress Lord Krishna in yellow garments, apply a tilak (mark) of sandalwood paste, and offer a garland of yellow flowers.
4. Offering Food: Offer a meal of karhi (yogurt-based curry) and rice, or butter and sugar (makhan-mishri) as naivedya (sacred food). Perform Aarti (ritual of waving a lit lamp) to complete the worship.