Chhath Puja is a cultural festival in which the devotees worship the Sun for the happiness and prosperity of the family. Chhath Puja is a very ancient festival of Hinduism, dedicated to the God of Energy who is also known as Surya or Surya Shashthi. Being an omnipresent natural force, the Sun has been worshiped since time immemorial. There are many mantras in the Gveda in praise of the Sun. You already know that Danveer Karna was a great worshiper of Surya. The legends also say that Draupadi, in her exile, had worshiped the Pandavas for the well-being of the family in the same manner as is now done in Chhath.
Chhath Puja is a famous festival celebrated mainly in Eastern India. This fast, which is prevalent in Bihar, is now being celebrated all over India as well as in Nepal. Men and women celebrate this festival equally and pray to Chhath Maiya for family happiness, prosperity, and desired results. Many people observe this fast even after their vow is fulfilled and keep this fast for life or as long as possible.
There is no need for a pandit in this four-day festival. You have to do the pooja yourself and from relatives to close neighbors join in to help in this difficult puja. That is, those who do not do Chhath also become a part of the fast by becoming a participant in the activities of the fast.
Anyone can observe Chhath fast. This is the reason that in this festival, along with women, you will also see men becoming fast. The condition of devotion remains that in a state like Bihar, the level of crime is reduced to the lowest during this festival. The path by which Vratis go to the ghat to offer Arghya to the Sun is cleared by people of all religions and people of all religions take equal part in this cleanliness.
When is Chhath Puja?
The festival of Chhath Puja 2021 will be celebrated on Wednesday, 10 November. This holy festival is celebrated on the sixth day of Kartik Shukla Paksha. Basically, it is called Chhath because of Surya Shashthi fasting. This festival is celebrated twice a year. First time in Chaitra and the second time in Kartik. The Chhath festival celebrated on Chaitra Shukla Paksha Shashthi is called Chaiti Chhath and the festival celebrated on Kartik Shukla Paksha Shashthi is called Kartiki Chhath.
Chhath Puja lasts for 4 days. In order to please Chhath Maiya on this festival, the fasting fasts for 36 hours of waterless fast. This festival has special significance in Hinduism. Chhath festival is celebrated over a period of four days. These include holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water, standing in water for long periods, and offering arghya.
Chhath Puja 2021 Date: 10 November 2021, Wednesday
Chhath Puja Date:
08 November 2021, Monday – Nahay-Khay
09 November 2021, Tuesday – Kharna
10 November 2021, Wednesday – Arghya of the setting sun
11 November 2021, Thursday – Arghya of the rising sun
Auspicious time to offer Arghya – Chhath Puja Muhurat
Sunset Time (Sandhya Arghya):- November 10, 05:30 PM
Sunrise time (Usha Arghya) – November 11, 06:40 AM
Materials used in Chhath Puja
- porridge
- Soup – brass or bamboo
- Lemon
- Coconut (with water)
- betel leaf
- with sugarcane leaves
- honey
- Betel
- Vermilion
- Kapoor
- pure ghee
- kumkum
- Sweet Potato / Ganji
- Turmeric and Ginger Plant
- Pears and other available fruits
- Akshat (rice pieces)
- Dates or Thekua
- Chandan
- Sweet
And so on Story of four days of Chhath Puja Chaturthi – Have a bath
Chhath Puja begins with a bath on the Chaturthi of Kartik Shukla Paksha. On this day the whole house is cleaned and made holy. After that Chhath fasting bath has to be done. After wearing clean clothes and eating pure vegetarian food, fasting has to be started.
Panchami – Lokhanda and Kharna
The fast is observed on the next day i.e. on the fifth day of Kartik Shukla. It is called Kharna. On this day one has to fast for the whole day. And in the evening after worship, food is to be taken. This ritual is also called Kharna. People from the neighborhood are also called to take the prasad of Kharna. Ghee, Chupdi roti, rice kheer can be made in the prasad.
Shashthi – Evening Ardhya
Special worship of Sun God is done on Surya Shashthi. Chhath Prasad is made on this day. The prasad includes rice laddus, fruits, and rice molds. In the evening, after decorating the Ardhya in a bamboo basket or soup, the fasting family travels to the ghat to offer Ardhya to the setting sun, performs the fasting ceremony on the banks of a pond or river. On this day, a picturesque scene like a fair on the banks of the river is created at night.
Saptami – Parana day, Usha Ardhya
Ardha is offered to the rising sun on the last day of the fast. The fasting people gather at the same place where the setting sun was offered Ardhya on the previous night. There Prasad is distributed. And the whole method is completed with cleanliness.
Other names for Chhath Puja
- Worship of Chhathi Mai,
- Dala Chhath,
- Surya Sasti,
- dala puja chhath festival
History and Origin of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja holds great importance in Hinduism and there is a belief that the old priests were requested by the king (which king) to come and perform the traditional worship of Lord Surya. He worshiped the Sun God by reciting mantras and hymns from the ancient Rigveda. The ancient Chhath Puja was performed by the Pandavas and Draupadi of Hastinapur (New Delhi) to solve their problems and get their kingdom back.
It is also believed that Chhath Puja was started by the son of Surya, Karna. He was a great warrior during the Mahabharata war and was the ruler of Angadesh (Munger district of Bihar).
Chhath Maiya (wife of Lord Surya) is also worshiped on the day of Chhath Puja, also known as Usha in the Vedas. Usha means dawn (the first ray of the day). People pray to Chhathi Maiya to get rid of their troubles as well as to get Moksha or liberation.
The second historical story behind celebrating Chhath Puja is that of Lord Rama. It is believed that after 14 years of exile, Lord Rama and Mother Sita returned to Ayodhya and worshiped Lord Surya in the Shukla Paksha of Kartik month by fasting during the coronation. From that time, Chhath Puja became an important and traditional festival of Hinduism and people started celebrating the same date every year.
Chhath Puja Story
A long time ago, there was a king named Priyabrata and his wife was Malini. They lived very happily but there was a lot of sadness left in their life that they did not have any children. With the help of Maharishi Kashyap, he decided to perform a huge Yagya for the blessings of having children. Due to the effect of the yajna, his wife became pregnant. But after 9 months she gave birth to a dead child. The king was very sad and decided to commit suicide.
Suddenly a goddess appeared in front of him while committing suicide. The goddess said, I am Goddess sixth and whoever worships me with a pure mind and soul, surely gets a child. King Priyabrata did the same and he was blessed with a beautiful and lovely child by the blessings of the Goddess. Since then people have started celebrating Chhath Puja.
Significance of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja has a special significance during sunrise and sunset. Sunrise and sunset times are the most important times of the day during which a human body can safely receive solar energy without any harm. This is the reason why there is a myth of offering Sandhya Arghya and Vihaniya Arghya to the Sun in the Chhath Festival. During this period the level of ultraviolet radiation in solar energy is low so it is safe for the human body. People perform Chhath Puja to thank Lord Surya for receiving blessings as well as continuing life on earth.
The ritual of Chhath Puja, (by purification of body and mind) provides mental peace, increases energy levels and immunity, greatly reduces the frequency of irritation, anger, as well as negative emotions. It is also believed that Chhath Puja helps in slowing down the aging process of process. Such beliefs and customs make the Chhath ritual the most important festival in Hinduism.
The scientific importance of offering Arghya in Chhath Puja
The body gets vitamin D from the rays of the sun. That is why for centuries Surya Namaskar has been said to be very beneficial. At the same time, according to the principle of the prism, vitamin D from the morning sunlight improves the body’s immunity and all the problems related to the skin end.
Benefits of Chhath Puja
It is the method of purification of the body and mind that leads to biochemical changes.
Through purification, it is possible to control the effect of prana and become more energetic.
It improves the contours of the skin, develops a better vision, and slows down the aging process.
Devotees of Chhath Puja can improve the immunity of the body.
Various types of skin diseases can be cured through safe sunlight.
It enhances the immunity of the blood by improving the functioning of white blood cells.
Solar energy provides the power to control the secretion of hormones.
Daily Surya meditation relaxes the body and mind. Pranayama, yoga, and meditation are also ways to control the body and mind.
Who is Chhathi Mayya?
Chhath is celebrated on the sixth day of Kartik month. The Shashthi Maiya, which is worshiped on the sixth day, is called Chhathi Maiya in Bihar. It is believed that this mother who is worshiped during Chhath Puja is the sister of Sun God. That is why people please the sixth Maya by offering Arghya to the Sun.
At the same time, in the Puranas, Katyayani Devi, the sixth form of Maa Durga, is also considered as a form of Chhath Mata. Chhath Maiya is also known as the mother who gives children. It is believed that the Chhath festival is celebrated for the children, especially those couples who did not get the child. They keep Chhath fast, all others celebrate Chhath for the happiness and peace of their children.
