Chhathi Poojan / Vidhata Lekh Puja (6th Day)

Chhathi, or Shashthi, puja is performed on the sixth day after the child's birth to please the Goddess for the child's well-being. No special muhurat is needed for it, since the sixth day itself is the time, and the puja is usually done in the evening. Lord Ganesha is worshipped first, and then the Goddess (Mother Shashthi, or Chhathi Mata) is invoked with a lamp, flowers, incense and a food offering. In many Gujarati families a pen, paper and kumkum are also placed for Vidhata, who is believed to write the child's fate. The details vary by family, so the pandit follows your custom.

1. Ganesh puja, to remove obstacles. 2. Invocation of Chhathi Mata (Shashthi). 3. Offering of flowers, incense, a lamp and food. 4. Vidhata Lekh: pen, paper and kumkum are offered, as per your family's custom. 5. Prayers for the child's health and a good future, then prasad. The full ritual takes about 50 minutes.