How is Chhath Puja Celebrated?
India is a land of festivals where each festival is celebrated with sheer enthusiasm and devotion. One of the most important festivals, which is celebrated just after a week of Diwali, is Chhath Puja. The festival occurs on the Kartika Shukla Shashti, which is the sixth day of the month of Karthika, according to the Hindu calendar. The four-day-long festival is of great significance and celebrated with great fervour & enthusiasm primarily in the states of North India i.e. Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal. Devotees mark the festival by observing fast and offering prayers to the god of light, energy and life force i.e. Sun God and his wife Usha, also known as Chhathi Maiya. It is believed that worshipping the sun offers longevity, positivity, prosperity and well being.
Rituals of Chhath Puja
The main worshippers or devotees are known as Parvaitin. Parv in Sanskrit means occasion or festival and Vaiti means the observers of fast. The Parvaitins pray for the well-being, happiness and prosperity of their family members. The Prasad that is offered during Chhath Puja include sweets, Kheer, Thekua, Rice Laddoo, and fruits like bananas, sugarcane, and sweet lime. The 4-day long festival witnesses different rituals every day i.e.
Day 1: Nahay Khay (Chaturthi)
As the name signifies, Nahay Khay involves taking a dip in the holy water body and preparing a sattvic meal at home. Lauki curry, Kaddu Bhat with chana daal and roti is common preparation on this day. The women observing the puja consume only one meal on this day.
Day 2: Lohanda or Kharna (Panchami)
The vratis observe Nirjala fast (fast without drinking even a drop of water) from sunrise to sunset. They break their fast only after worshipping the sun during the sunset. The devotees prepare many offerings like sweets, mainly kheer, bananas and rice. After consuming the prasad one has to fast for 36 hours without water.
Day 3: ‘Chhath Puja’ Sandhya Arghya (Shashthi)
The third day is also observed with Nirjala fast and the day is spent by preparing puja offerings. All the offerings and fruits are put in a basket and taken to Chhath ghat, at the banks of rivers or ponds. The devotees stand in the river to offer arghya to the setting sun.
Day 4: Usha Arghya, Parana Day (Saptami)
On the 4th and last day, the devotees go to the riverbank before sunrise and perform the Usha Arghya that includes offering prayers to the rising sun. The festivities end with breaking the 36-hours fast and enjoying with family & relatives by sharing prasad and Chhath Puja greetings.
