Every year the festival of Chhath Puja is celebrated from Chaturthi Tithi to Saptami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. During this festival, there is a tradition of worshiping Lord Surya and offering Arghya. Married women observe this fast ritually. Besides, men also worship Lord Surya to overcome the troubles in life. There is a religious belief that by observing this fast one gets the blessings of Sun God. Life is happy. This year Chhath Mahaparva will be celebrated on 7 November 2024. But this festival starts two days before.
In such a situation, Chhath Puja will start with Nahay-Khay on 5th November. Nahay Khay will be offered on 5th, Kharna on 6th, Arghya will be offered to the setting sun on 7th and Arghya will be offered to the rising sun on the morning of 8th. This is a great festival of worship of Sun God and Shashthi Mata. The fasting person has to remain dehydrated for about 36 hours. To remain dehydrated means that the fasting person does not have to drink water for 36 hours.
When is Chhath Puja 2024
According to the Panchang, the festival of Chhath Puja starts from the Chaturthi date of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. At the same time, this festival ends on Saptami Tithi. In such a situation, Chhath Mahaparva will be celebrated from 05 November to 08 November. This year, Shashthi Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month will start from 12.41 am on 7th November and will end at 12.34 am on 8th November. Therefore, evening Arghya will be offered on Thursday, 7th November. Morning Arghya will be offered the next day on 8th November. After this, Parana will take place.
chhath puja 2024 calendar
First day of Chhath Puja, 5 November 2024- Nahay Khay
Second day of Chhath Puja, 6 November 2024- Kharna
Third day of Chhath Puja, 7 November 2024- Evening Arghya
Fourth day of Chhath Puja, 8 November 2024- Usha Arghya
Chhath Puja begins with Nahay Khay. On this day devotees take bath in river or pond. If it is not possible to take bath in the river, you can also take bath at home. After this, the fasting women prepare prasad of rice, gram dal and bottle gourd and consume it. Pure and satvik food is eaten on this day.
What is Kharna?
The second day of Chhath Puja is called Lohanda or Kharna. Kharna Prasad is made on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. On this day, mothers keep fast throughout the day and after the puja, they start the 36-hour waterless fast by eating Kharna Prasad. On this day, prasad is made by lighting fire with mango wood in an earthen stove.
evening prayer
On the third day, the devotees go to the banks of a river or pond at sunset and offer Arghya to the Sun God. This is the most important day of Chhath Puja. Along with this, by placing fruits, sugarcane, rice laddu, thekua and other ingredients in bamboo soup, worship is done while standing in water.
morning prayer
On the fourth day, Arghya is offered to the rising sun. On this day, devotees break their fast. They also wish for the long life and good future of their children. Prasad is distributed on this day.
Importance of Chhath Puja
During Chhath Puja, soup is used while offering Arghya to the Sun God. During this time, women observing fast carry soup made of bamboo, fruits etc. in a basket or daura to Chhath Ghat. Worships Suryadev (Suryadev Mantra). Chhathi Maiya is offered with the help of a soup bowl or basket made of bamboo. According to beliefs, worshiping bamboo brings both wealth and child happiness to people’s homes. Apart from this, the problems coming in life also end.
Mythology of Chhath Puja
Actually, there are many popular stories and beliefs regarding Chhath Puja in Bihar. It is said that the fast of Chhath Puja was first observed by Mother Sita. According to popular stories, when Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman after 14 years of exile. Then he had decided to perform a Yagya on the orders of the sages to get freedom from the killing of Ravana i.e. Brahma murder. Mugdal Rishi was invited for this.
Mugdal Rishi came and purified Mother Sita by sprinkling Ganga water on her. Then he was asked to worship Sun God on the sixth day of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. Then Mother Sita stayed in the ashram of sage Mugdal and worshiped Lord Surya for 6 days and took the blessings of Sun God by performing rituals at sunrise on Saptami Tithi. It is said that the tradition of Chhath Puja has been going on since then.
Chhath also has a deep relation with Mahabharata
According to another story, Chhath Puja also has a deep connection with Mahabharata. It was first started by Surya’s son Karna. Karna was a great devotee of Lord Surya. Many times Karna used to worship the Sun God by standing in water for hours. Used to offer Arghya to them. Apart from this, according to mythology, when Pandavas lost their entire kingdom in gambling. Then Draupadi also observed the Mahavrat of Chhath. It is said that by observing this fast, Draupadi’s wish was fulfilled and the Pandavas got their kingdom back.
Disclaimer: All the information given here is based on social and religious beliefs. For more information, please take expert advice.
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