Ganesh Sankasht Chaturthi is observed every month on the
fourth date of Krishna Paksha. It is also called tilkut chaturthi and is
observed on 4th day after Paush Purnima in the month of Magh
(January/February).
A fast is observed for the entire day and in the evening,
a katha is read. The fast ends when the moon is sighted. One should eat
‘Tilkut’ on this day. During the ritual, Tilkut is put in a bowl and kept near
durwa grass. Water is offered to the Sun; both til and durwa grass are offered
to the Moon while worshiping Ganesha.
Tilkut is a sweet savory made of sesame seeds (Sesamum
indicum) and jaggery or gur, shakkar- unrefined sugar or sugar. The sugar
tilkut is white in color, the shakkar tilkut is light brown in colour and the
gur/jaggery tilkut is dark brown in colour.
Sesame seeds are said to have a greater ability to absorb
pure (sattva) frequencies than any other seed, with the black variety in
addition being an extremely good source of calcium, protein, phosphorous, iron
and magnesium.
Jaggery is considered wholesome sugar, retaining more
mineral salts than refined sugar and is a good source of both calcium and iron.
Together, they both generate body heat and prevent the ill-effects of the cold
weather, which translates into increased immunity for the coming months.
In Maharashtra, they say: “Tilgul ghya, gud gud bola”,
which literally means “Eat tilgul or tilkut and talk sweet”. The deeper
meaning behind it is that eating tilkut detoxifies the mind so that one talks
sweetly.
Our mythology says that Lord Shiva blessed Ganesh on this
day by saying that Moon will get down from his head to Ganesh’s head and help
remove the obstacles (detoxification of the mind). On this day, the fast ends
only after worshipping Ganesha and Moon at night.
Tilkut and durva grass are therefore natural detoxifiers
and hence worshiped so that they can be eaten to remove the obstacles from the
life. Apart both are good source of calcium and needs to be taken during the
whole of Magh month with sun exposure (vitamin D).
Other natural detoxifiers are:
·
Wheat grass used in navrataras for detoxification of the
mind body and soul
· Durva grass and tilkut for removing obstacles (Ganesh
Pooja) and removing attachments (black sesame used in shradhs)
·
Kusha grass for removing attachments (used in shradhs)
·
Pranayama (for attachments as mentioned in Hanuman
Chalisa)
·
Chanting with concentration in the heart.
·
Tulsi water (used in Satya Narayana ki Katha)
·
Neem water (used in Safi)
·
Meditation
Dr KK Aggarwal
Padma Shri Awardee
President Elect Confederation of Medical
Associations in Asia and Oceania
(CMAAO)
Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications
President Heart Care Foundation of India
Past National President IMA
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