The festival of Chhath Puja falls on the sixth day after Diwali in the month of Kartik. Basically, it is a four-day festivity. This year, Chhath Puja festivities began on November 11 and will end on November 14. Today, 13 November, is the day of main pooja. On this festival, God Sun and his wife Usha are worshipped. This Hindu festival is mainly celebrated in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Nepal.
Also known as Surya Shasthi, the festival is performed to seek blessings of Surya to live a long and healthy life. People celebrate this festival by following various rituals like holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water, offering prayers and food to the rising and setting sun.
Significance of celebrating Chhath Puja
In Hindu mythology, God Sun has been given a prominent place. He is considered to be a healer of many ailments. Worshipping Sun during Chhath puja is believed to be very auspicious. On this occasion, devotees thank Sun and his wife for blessing the earth with life.
Check out the details of the four days of Chhath
Nahay Khay: On this day, devotees take holy dip and the holy water to their homes and use it in cooking.
Lohanda: It is the second day of Chhath where devotees observe a fast for the whole day which ends in the evening. After this, they observe fast for 36 hours without water.
Sandhya Arghya: On the third day, devotees prepare Prasad and take a dip in the holy water body in the evening and worship the Sun god and Chhathi maiyya.
Usha Arghya: On the last day, devotees go to the holy water and offer morning offerings or ‘Usha arghya’ to the Sun and then break their fast.
