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Chhath, the great festival of Sun worship, has started from today with Nahay-Khay. Sun God and Chhathi Maiya are worshiped in this great festival. This festival is a symbol of folk culture and love for nature and is celebrated with great enthusiasm mainly in the Terai regions of Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal. This year, Chhath Puja has started from today, 25th October and this festival will conclude with Usha (morning) Arghya on 28th October.

First day: 25th October Nahay-Khay
Second day: 26 October Kharna
Day 3: 27th October Evening Arghya (Offering to the setting sun)
Fourth day: 28 October Usha Arghya (offering to the rising sun)

Read this also– There is a tradition of making Thekua during Chhath, try this recipe at home.

Bathing and eating

Chhath festival has started today with Nahay-Khay. Women observing fast on this day take bath in Ganga or any holy river. People who do not have rivers near their houses celebrate this festival by building ghats near their houses. On this day, the fasting person consumes satvik food only once. Bottle gourd vegetable, gram dal and rice are traditionally consumed on this day. Rock salt is used in cooking and special care is taken of cleanliness and purity while preparing food.

Kharna

The second day of Chhath Puja is Kharna, which is also called ‘Lohanda’ in some places. On this day the devotee starts a waterless fast of 36 hours. The fasting person observes a waterless fast throughout the day. In the evening, jaggery kheer, also called Rasiya, is made with mango wood on an earthen stove. After worshiping the Sun God, the devotees first take Prasad. After accepting the Prasad of Kharna, the fasting person does not consume food and water until offering Surya Arghya the next day.

evening prayer

The most important day of the six festivals is Astachalgami. On this day, Arghya is offered to the setting sun. The vrats and devotees go to the banks of the river or pond carrying offerings made of thekua, fruits, sugarcane, coconut, and seasonal fruits in soup or bamboo baskets. On this day, standing in water, the last rays of the sun are offered Arghya with water, milk and flowers. Arghya is offered to the setting sun because it gives strength to face difficult moments in life and it shows that difficult times also come in life.

Usha Arghya

This year, Chhath Puja will end with Usha Arghya on 28th October. On the last day, Arghya is offered to the rising sun. The fast and all the family members gather at the ghat. They stand in the water before sunrise and Arghya is offered to the first ray of the sun. After offering Arghya, the devotees break their fast with raw milk and Prasad, which is called Parana. After this, Chhath Prasad is distributed from house to house and also given to relatives in the neighbourhood.

Importance of Chhath Puja

This festival is mainly celebrated for the worship of Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. Devotees believe that observing their fast, Arghya and Nahay-Khay protects health, age, prosperity and family. The main day of Chhath festival falls on Shukla Shashthi date of Kartik month after Diwali. It is believed that after the harvest, this festival is celebrated to express gratitude towards the blessings of the Sun and the elements of nature.