Each lunar month in Hindu calendar has two Chaturthi Tithis. The one after Purnimasi or full moon during Krishna Paksha is known as Sankashti Chaturthi and the one after Amavasya or new moon during Shukla Paksha is known as Vinayaka Chaturthi.
Devotees of Lord Ganesha keep fast from sunrise to moonrise on Sankashti Chaturthi.
Sankashti means deliverance during troubled times. Lord Ganesha, the supreme lord of intelligence, symbolizes the remover of all obstacles.
Hence it is believed that one can get rid of all obstacles by observing this fast.
The pujas, from Sunrise, are as per Tuesday but in the evening the temple closes about 1 1/2 hour prior to moon rise and Shodashopchar Pooja is performed on Shree Siddhivinayak and an Abhishek of Milk and Rose Water on Shree Siddhivinayak goes on while a team of priests recite various Vedic Mantras and Prayers.
A Naivedya comprising of Steamed Modaks and other eatables is then offered to Shree Siddhivinayak and following the same is the Aarti Mantra Pushpanjali.
After this the temple is again open to devotees and Shejaarti is performed only after the crowd subsides.
