Shashthi (day): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 10:37, 22 March 2026

Shashthi (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) also referred to as Chhath is the sixth day of the lunar fortnight in the Hindu calendar.^[1] It is tithi (lunar day) of a paksha, the fourteen-day phase of the moon.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The word comes from the Sanskrit cardinal ṣaṣ (six), whence the ordinal number (linguistics) ṣaṣṭha (sixth), fem. ṣaṣṭhī (days of the paksha are feminine gender).

Occasions[edit | edit source]

The sixth tithi, especially in the waxing period (shuklapaksha), is important in several rituals including:

Durga Puja (September–October, east India, Bengal)
Sitalsasthi^[2] (May–June, Orissa, neighbouring regions)
Skanda (Kandha) Shashti or Subramanya Shashti^[3] (November–December, south India, Tamil Nadu)
Chandra Shashti (Channan Chhath): It is celebrated on Krishna Paksha Shahsti of Bhadrapada month. It is quite popular among Dogra community of Jammu division.^[4] The day is celebrated as birthday of Balarama and hence also called Balram Chhath or Baldev Chhath.
Surya Shashti (Chhath), a major sun-worshiping day of Hindus is celebrated on sixth day Shukla Paksha of Kartika.

References[edit | edit source]

↑ Monier-Williams, Monier (1872). A Sanskrit-English Dictionary: ...with Special Reference to Greek, Latin, Gothic, German, Anglo-saxon... Clarendon. p. 1034.
↑ "Festivals of India : Sital Shashti". Aryabhatt.com. Retrieved 2017-07-29.
↑ Kannikeswaran, Kanniks. "Skanda Sashti". Indiantemples.com. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
↑ Śāstrī, Rāmanātha; Mohana, Madana; Langeh, Baldev Singh (1970). (Rajata jayantī abhinandana grantha) (in हिन्दी). Ḍogarī Saṃsthā.

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[1] Monier-Williams, Monier (1872). A Sanskrit-English Dictionary: ...with Special Reference to Greek, Latin, Gothic, German, Anglo-saxon... Clarendon. p. 1034.

[2] "Festivals of India : Sital Shashti". Aryabhatt.com. Retrieved 2017-07-29.

[3] Kannikeswaran, Kanniks. "Skanda Sashti". Indiantemples.com. Retrieved 29 July 2017.

[4] Śāstrī, Rāmanātha; Mohana, Madana; Langeh, Baldev Singh (1970). (Rajata jayantī abhinandana grantha) (in हिन्दी). Ḍogarī Saṃsthā.

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-{{for|Hindu goddess|Shashti (goddess)}}
+{{Short description|Sixth day of the lunar fortnight in the Hindu calendar}}
-'''Shashthi''' ([[Sanskrit]]: षष्ठी,  {{IAST|Ṣaṣṭhī}}) also referred to as '''Chhath''' is the sixth day or [[tithi]] of a [[Paksha]] or fourteen-day phase of the moon.  The word comes from the Sanskrit cardinal ''ṣaṣ'' (six), whence the [[ordinal number (linguistics)]] ''ṣaṣṭha'' (sixth), fem. ''ṣaṣṭhī'' (days of the paksha are feminine [[gender (linguistics)|gender]]).
+{{for|the Hindu goddess|Shashthi}}
+'''Shashthi''' ({{Langx|sa|षष्ठी|translit=Ṣaṣṭhī}}) also referred to as '''Chhath''' is the sixth day of the lunar fortnight in the [[Hindu calendar]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Monier-Williams |first=Monier |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Hp1MX8d8osC&amp;dq=shashthi+sixth+day&amp;pg=PA1034 |title=A Sanskrit-English Dictionary: ...with Special Reference to Greek, Latin, Gothic, German, Anglo-saxon... |date=1872 |publisher=Clarendon |pages=1034 |language=en}}</ref> It is [[tithi]] (lunar day) of a [[paksha]], the fourteen-day phase of the moon.
+== Etymology ==
+The word comes from the Sanskrit cardinal ''ṣaṣ'' (six), whence the [[ordinal number (linguistics)]] ''ṣaṣṭha'' (sixth), fem. ''ṣaṣṭhī'' (days of the paksha are feminine [[gender (linguistics)|gender]]).
+== Occasions ==
 The sixth tithi, especially in the waxing period (''shuklapaksha''), is important in several rituals including:
 * [[Durga Puja]] (September–October, east India, [[Bengal]])
 * [[Sitalsasthi]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aryabhatt.com/fast_fair_festival/Festivals/Sital%20Sasthi.htm|title=Festivals of India : Sital Shashti|website=Aryabhatt.com|accessdate=2017-07-29}}</ref> (May–June, [[Orissa, India|Orissa]], neighbouring regions)
-* [[Skanda Shashti|Kandha Shashti]] or [[Murugan|Subramanya]] Shashti<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiantemples.com/sashti.html|title=Skanda Sashti|first=Kanniks|last=Kannikeswaran|website=Indiantemples.com|accessdate=29 July 2017}}</ref> (November–December, south India, [[Tamil Nadu]])
+* [[Kartikeya|Skanda (Kandha) Shashti]] or [[Murugan|Subramanya]] Shashti<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiantemples.com/sashti.html|title=Skanda Sashti|first=Kanniks|last=Kannikeswaran|website=Indiantemples.com|accessdate=29 July 2017}}</ref> (November–December, south India, [[Tamil Nadu]])
-* [[Chhath]], a major sun-worshiping day of Hindus is celebrated on sixth day [[Shukla Paksha]] of [[Kartika (month)|Kartika]].
+* Chandra Shashti (''Channan Chhath''): It is celebrated on [[Krishna Paksha]] Shahsti of [[Bhadrapada]] month. It is quite popular among [[Dogras|Dogra]] community of [[Jammu division]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Śāstrī |first1=Rāmanātha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SAASAQAAIAAJ&amp;q=%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%A8+%E0%A4%9B%E0%A4%A0 |title=(Rajata jayantī abhinandana grantha). |last2=Mohana |first2=Madana |last3=Langeh |first3=Baldev Singh |date=1970 |publisher=Ḍogarī Saṃsthā |language=hi}}</ref> The day is celebrated as birthday of [[Balarama]] and hence also called ''Balram Chhath'' or ''Baldev Chhath.''
+* [[Chhath|Surya Shashti (Chhath)]], a major sun-worshiping day of Hindus is celebrated on sixth day [[Shukla Paksha]] of [[Kartika (month)|Kartika]].
-'''Kandha Shasti Vratham : '''
-The Kandha Shasti or Kanda Shasthi Vratham is an important observance. It is especially for Lord Muruga. The festival is observed in Aippasi. Devotees fast during these six days. Although the festival is dedicated to Lord Murugan, Shukla Paksha Sashti in the lunar month of Kartika is the more significant one of the two. Devotees fast for six days. This lasts on the Soorasamharam day. The day after Soorasamharam is Tiru Kalyanam. The day after Soorasamharam is known as Subramanya Shashti, or Kukke Subramanya Sashti. It falls during lunar month Margashirsha.
 ==References==