Chhath Puja 2024: Date, Significance, and Rituals

Chhath Puja 2024: Chhath Puja, also known as Surya Shashti, is an auspicious Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Surya (the Sun God) and Goddess Chhathi Maiya. This festival, celebrated primarily in Bihar , Jharkhand , and Uttar Pradesh, is observed with immense devotion and enthusiasm. This year Chhath Puja will begin on November 5.

 Significance of Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja is a time of offering gratitude to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya for sustaining life on earth and for granting health and prosperity. The rituals of this festival are centered around purity, fasting, and worship, symbolizing the human connection with nature.

Rituals of Chhath Puja

The festival lasts four days, starting on the Chaturthi (fourth day) of the Kartik month and concluding on Saptami (seventh day).

Day 1: Nahaaye Khaaye (Bath and Feast)

The first day begins with devotees taking a holy dip in rivers or ponds, that symbolizes to purification. After the ritual bath, a simple, sattvic meal is consumed to mark the start of the fasting period.

Day 2: Kharna (Fasting)

The second day involves a strict Nirjala Vrat, where devotees fast without consuming food or water. In the evening, jaggery kheer is prepared and offered to Chhathi Maiya. The prasad is then shared among family and friends.

Day 3: Sandhya Arghya (Offering to the Setting Sun)

On the third day, devotees gather at a water body to offer Arghya (offerings of fruits, sweets, and other delicacies) to the setting Sun. Devotional songs fill the night as families recite the Chhath Vrat Katha.

Day 4: Usha Arghya and Paran (Sunrise Offerings and Breaking the Fast)

The festival concludes on the fourth day with Usha Arghya, where prayers are offered to the rising Sun. Following which devotees break their fast with ginger and jaggery, symbolizing renewal and gratitude for the Sun's blessings.

Chhath Puja is a profound expression of devotion, purity, and thanksgiving to nature, celebrated with unwavering faith across generations.