Chhath Puja

• Chhath Puja is dedicated to the sun god and is observed for four days during the month of Karthik.
• It is also known as Surya Shashti, It Is performed to offer thanks to the Sun God, Surya.
• The puja is performed on Kartik Shukla Shashti i.e. 6th day of the month of Karthik. 
• It is the festival where devotees offer salutations to the setting and the rising sun to celebrate the significance of the cycle of birth, which starts with death.
• It is also celebrated in the summer (March–April), on Chaitra Shashti, some days after Holi this event is called Chaiti Chhath. 
• By performing this vrat by Draupadi and Pandavas with the advice of Sage Daumya, they were able to regain their lost kingdom and solve their problems immediately.
• Rigveda also mentions the importance of Chhath Puja
• It is also believed that Chhath puja was started by Karna during the Mahabharat times.
• Devotees observe fast from sunrise until the evening when the sun sets.
• Puja is performed and the deities are offered kheer, sweets, and fruits.

Four Days Fast

• On the first day of Chhath, those who perform puja are supposed to take only one meal during the day that too after the sunset.
• On the second day, the devotee is supposed to fast the whole day and are supposed to break bread only after sunset when they are done with the Puja.
• Thereafter, the person who performs puja goes on a fast for the next 36 hours, without food and water.
• They open their fast on the fourth day after they offer prayers to the rising sun in the morning.

The members of the family visit the holy river before sunrise and offer prayers to the Sun god

Rituals :

• During this period, the worshiper observes purity and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket.
• This is the only holy festival that has no involvement of any pandit (priest).
• The devotee offer their prayers to the setting sun, and then the rising sun in celebrating its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death.
• Women pray for well –the well-being of their families.
• Once a family starts performing Chhatt Puja, they must perform it every year and pass it on to the following generations.
• The food is strictly vegetarian and it is cooked without salt, onions, or garlic. 

Day 1: Naha Kha

• The first day on which festivities start is called Naha Kha, which literally means to bathe and eat.
• On this day, devotees go to a sacred river in their place and take a dip in the river
• Devotees take home some water from the holy river to prepare offerings for the day.
• Preparations need to be done before the offerings are prepared.
• The house and the compound nearby are conscientiously cleaned.
• The person who is fasting on this day,  is supposed to meal once this day.

Day 2: Kharna

• Devotees observe fast for the complete day.
• They are not supposed to eat anything before the sunset.
• Just after sunrise, Mother Earth is worshipped and the offerings which comprise Rasiao-kheer, puris, and bananas are distributed among friends and relatives.
• After this, they break bread.
• From this time they go on a fast for the next 36 hours not even drinking a single drop of water.

Day 3: Chhath

The day is divided into two main parts

Sanjhiya Arghya: 

• The term Sanjhiya Arghya literally means evening offerings.
• The entire day is spent resting and preparing offerings at home.
• In the evening, the entire household accompanies a pond or a reservoir devised for the particular reason where he or she makes offerings to the setting sun.
• Folk songs are sung which are passed from generation to generation through oral rendition.
• These folk songs reflect the culture, social structure, mythology, and history of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Kosi: 

• A canopy is made with the help of five sugarcane sticks; lighted lamps are put inside this canopy.
• These five sticks symbolize the five basic elements of nature from which the human body is cast, Panchatattva.
• This ritual is especially followed by families where childbirth or marriage has taken place quite recently.
• The earthen-lit lamps are symbolic of solar energy which helps the sustenance.
• Firstly, the ritual is conducted in the courtyard of the house, making offerings to the setting sun.
• Later, this is taken to the banks of a river where the ritual is continued and ends with worshipping the rising sun.

Day 4: Parna

• The offerings given to the sun in the morning are called Bihaniya Aragh.
• The family members visit the bank of the sacred river before sunrise to make offerings to the rising sun.
• The festival is concluded after the devotee breaks their fast and the Prasad is distributed.

As it is celebrated Mainly in North India Devotees visit River Ganga and Yamuna, and major celebrations take place on those rivers. It is also said that the Goddess that is worshipped during the famous Chhath Puja is known as Chhathi Maiya. Chhathi Maiya is known as Usha in the Vedas. During the Chhath Puja, Chhathi Maiya is invoked to bless us with this divine consciousness which will help us to overcome all the troubles in the world – this blessing will help us to Moksha or liberation.

Chhath Puja Dates in 2024 :

November 05 - Naha Kha

November 06 - Kharna

November 07 - Sandhya Argh

November 08 - Suryodaya Arghya Paran