Celebrated with profound spiritual fervor, Chhath Puja is a unique and cherished festival dedicated to Chatthi Maiya and Lord Surya, the Sun God. This four-day festival stands out as it honors both the Sun God and his sister, Chhathi Maiya, as per Hindu mythology.
Chhath Puja is a way of expressing deep gratitude to the Sun God for sustaining life on Earth. Devotees believe that by worshiping Lord Surya and Chatthi Maiya, they receive blessings of health, prosperity, and longevity.
When Is Chhath Puja 2024?
Chhath Puja in 2024 will take place over four days. The festival is typically observed twice a year—once in Chaitra (spring), called Chaitra Chhath, and the other in Kartik (autumn), known as Kartik Chhath. However, the Kartik Chhath, celebrated six days after Diwali on Kartik Shukla Shashti, is considered especially significant.
In the Hindu calendar, Chhath Puja begins on Shukla Chaturthi and concludes on Shukla Saptami. The night of Shashti Tithi of Shukla Paksha is the most significant day, marked by worship, fasting, and rituals that are observed with the utmost devotion.
According to the Gregorian calendar, this four-day festival typically falls in late October or mid-November.
Here is the Chhath Puja 2024 date and time, as per New Delhi, India.
Day 1- Nahay-Khay: 5th November 2024 (Tuesday) (Chaturthi) Sunrise- 06:36 AM - Sunset- 05:33 PM
Day 2- Lohanda And Kharna: 6th November 2024 (Wednesday) (Panchami) Sunrise- 06:37 AM - Sunset- 05:32 PM
Day 3- Chhath Puja, Sandhya Arghya: 7th November 2024 (Thursday) (Shashthi) Sunrise- 06:38 AM - Sunset- 05:32 PM
Day 4- Usha Arghya, Parana Day: 8th November 2024 (Friday) (Saptami) Sunrise- 06:38 AM - Sunset- 05:31 PM
Shashthi Tithi (Starting Time)- 12:41 AM, 7th November 2024 (Thursday)
Shashthi Tithi (Ending Time)- 12:34 AM, 8th November 2024 (Friday)
Dala Chhath, Surya Shashthi, Dala Puja, or Chhath Puja holds monumental significance for the Hindu community. On this occasion, devotees venerate Goddess Shashti or Chhathi Maiya and Lord Surya. Both these divine beings are hailed on this occasion and venerated with utter reverence, love, dedication, and devotion.
Chhath Puja is dedicated to Lord Surya, and Lord Surya is honored during this occasion. The Sun is a divine deity that all of us can see and is credited with providing life to all living things on Earth. In Hindu Vedas, the Sun rays are believed to eliminate negativity and destroy illnesses. The Sun God can also bestow the devotees with self-confidence, wellness, and wealth. Worshiping the Sun God and observing the fast also ensure the fulfillment of all your desires.
Devotees also honor Chhathi Maiya alongside the Sun God. In Hinduism, Shashthi Devi or Chhathi Maiya is also known as "Manas," the daughter of Lord Brahma, and the devotees revere her on this day. In the Bihar-Jharkhand local dialect, Goddess Shashti is known as Chhathi Maiya. According to the Puranas, she is also the Goddess Katyayani, who is worshiped on Navratri on Shashti. Devotees believe that by worshiping Chhathi Maiya on this occasion, the children of the women attain longevity, and the Goddess showers her blessings on them.
Chhath Puja Vrat, or fast, is mainly observed by women for the well-being of their sons and the wellness of their family members. The Vrat is considered one of the most challenging fasts to observe. Womenfolk observe a completely waterless fast for the health and longevity of the children. On Chhath Puja, worshiping the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya will bring you wealth and happiness. Devotees also pray to the Sun God enthusiastically to seek success and wellness for their loved ones.
Chhath Puja is a unique festival of four days, and in this four-day-long Chhath Puja celebration, every day has its own significance and ritual. The Chhath Puja Vidhi and fast can be physically quite demanding. When it comes to Chhath Puja Vidhi, holy bathing, abstaining from drinking water, strenuous fasting, standing in water, and offering Arghya and Prasad to the rising and setting Sun are some rituals that are followed.
Nahay Khay: Nahay Khay initiates the first day of Chhath Puja. On this day, the native takes a dip in the holy water of the Ganges. After that, the house is cleaned, the surroundings are purified with Gangajal (water from the Ganges), and vegetarian food "Kaddu-Bhat" is consumed once. Womenfolk who observe Chhath only consume a single meal on this day.
Lohanda And Kharna: On the second day of the Chhath Puja festival, devotees observe a strict fast without consuming a single drop of water. Kharna means the fast or Vrat, which is kept for the whole day. Devotees observe a fast without water from sunrise to sunset. After venerating the Sun God in the evening, devotees break their fast. They do so by making food offerings to the Sun God. In the evening, devotees can eat Kheer, which is made with jaggery, fruits, Puris, or Chapatis and is full of Ghee.
Sandhya Arghya: On the third day, offering Arghya on the Kartik Shukla Shashti to the setting Sun is the primary ritual of the day. This fast continues throughout the night, and Parana is on the following day after sunrise.
In the evening on this day, a bamboo basket is decorated and consists of fruits, Thekua, and rice Laddus. After which, people offer Arghya to the Sun with their families. At the time of Arghya, water and milk are offered to Lord Sun, and the Chhathi Maiya is venerated and worshiped with a Soop filled with Prasad. Women wear turmeric yellow or saffron-colored sarees and offer Sandhya Arghya to the Sun God. Goddess Shashti's songs are sung at night, and Vrat Katha is recited.
After returning home, the devotees perform the vibrant 'Kosi Bharai' ritual with their family members. In this ritual, devotees take five sugarcanes and tie them together in order to form a Mandap. Underneath the shade of that Mandap, Diyas are lit, and Thekua and other seasonal fruits are offered. This same ritual is repeated the following day, and afterward, devotees offer Arghya and other offerings to the rising Sun.
Usha Arghya: Arghya is offered to the Sun God on the final day. This Arghya is given to the rising Sun and is known as Usha Arghya. On this day, before sunrise, the devotees have to go to the riverbank and stand knee-high in the water to offer Arghya and Prasad to the rising Sun and worship the Goddess. Devotees worship the Chhathi Maiya for the protection of their children and the happiness and peace of the entire family. The 36-hour-long and strenuous fast is broken after giving Arghya to the Sun by eating the Chhath Prasad.
After worship, devotees drink raw milk, lots of water, or Sharbat. They eat a little Prasad to break their fast, which is called Paran or Parana. Womenfolk perform Parana by consuming a little piece of ginger covered in honey or jaggery and then eating pure vegetarian food.
The fourth day marks the end of Chhath Puja festival. Women are regarded as the main worshippers on the occasion of Chhath Puja. However, the festival is not limited to any specific gender. The Prasad prepared for this festival is strictly vegetarian and includes fruits, vegetables, and sweet dishes such as Kheer, Thekua, Khajuria, etc. The food is cooked without onions, garlic, or salt, as the emphasis is placed on maintaining the food's purity.
In recent years, the Chhath Puja celebration has been characterized by immense pomp and spectacle.
Even though Chhath Puja celebrations happen with immense enthusiasm all over India, the zeal in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh cannot be matched. It is also observed with equal dedication and reverence in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Goa, and Maharashtra. Moreover, the festival is also celebrated in Nepal.
Undoubtedly, Chhath Puja is an important festival for Hindus worldwide. People from all castes and creeds worship the Sun God to attain well-being, prosperity, harmony, and progress.
Astroyogi wishes you a happy Chhath Puja!
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