Shashti

Shashti (Sanskrit: IAST|Ṣaṣṭhī ) is the sixth day or tithi of a "pakSha" or fourteen-day phase of the moon. The word comes from the Sanskrit cardinal "ShaRh" (six), whence the ordinal number (linguistics) "ShaShTha" (sixth), feminine ShaShThI (days of the pakSha are feminine gender (linguistics).

The sixth tithi, especially in the waxing period ("shuklapaksha") is important in several rituals including
* Durga Puja (Sep-Oct, east India, Bengal,
* Sitala Shashti [http://www.aryabhatt.com/fast_fair_festival/Festivals/Sital%20Sasthi.htm] (May-June, Orissa, neighbouring regions),
*Skanda Shashti or Subramanya Shashti [http://www.indiantemples.com/sashti.html] (Nov-Dec, Tamil Nadu and other South India).

hashti (goddess)

In eastern India (particularly Bengal) Shashti is a folk-goddess and protectress of children. Her worship or puja is held on the sixth (shashti) day following a child's birth. She is considered an aspect of Durga and is also called Skandamātā (meaning "mother of Skanda") and is worshipped by Bengali women desiring offspring. The cat ("IAST|mārjāra") is her vahana (mount). She carries a child and her colour is yellow. Shasti appears to have merged with the goddess IAST|Śrī (IAST|Lakṣmi). [ Margaret Stutley's "The Illustrated Dictionary of Hindu Iconography" IAST|Ṣaṣṭhī on p. 127]

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