Chhath Puja: Four Days of Honouring the Rising and Setting Sun

Chhath Puja is an important festival mainly celebrated in Bihar and some parts of Uttar Pradesh. It starts on the sixth day of the Hindi month of Kartik and worships the Sun God and his wife, Usha. The festival is thanksgiving for helping life on Earth by the Sun God and seeking blessings for health, long life, prosperity, and positive thinking. Though it looks like the first day is a great celebration, it is the third day that is of significant importance. Chhath Puja is a four-day festival that involves strict rituals, including fasting, worshipping both the rising and setting sun, taking holy baths, and meditating while standing in water. Besides Bihar, it is also celebrated in Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and other parts of India. The rituals during the Kartik month are very important and are followed closely by the devotees.

History of Chhath Puja

Chhath is a festival which is all about purity, devotion and offering prayer to Sun God, the exact origin of this festival is ambiguous but there are certain believes which connects to Hindu epics. Ramayana and Mahabharata are the two epics which are associated with Chhath Puja.

Chhath Puja and Its Connection to the Ramayana

It is also believed that this ritual is associated with the origin of Chhath Puja. It is said that when Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya, he and his wife Sita observed a fast in honour of the Sun god, breaking it only at sunset. This ritual is one that later evolved into Chhath Puja.

Traditions with Scientific Value

Chhath Puja is practiced to get your body detoxified because taking dips in water and exposing the body to the sun increases the flow of solar bioelectricity, which improves the functionality of the human body. It is also said that Chhath Puja kills harmful bacteria and prepares the body for the upcoming winter season.

Rituals to Honour the Sun God in Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja is a four-day festival that begins four days after the popular Indian festival of Diwali. In 2024, Chhath Puja will be celebrated in November. The festival includes various rituals that are an important part of Chhath Puja.

Day 1

Nahay Khay: On the first day of Chhath Puja, devotees take a holy dip, preferably in the Kosi, Ganga, or Karnali rivers. After this, they bring home the holy water to prepare offerings. This ritual is very important during the first day of Chhath Puja.

Day 2

Kharna: On the second day of Chhath Puja, devotees fast all day until just after sunset. They prepare offerings like kheer (rice pudding), bananas, and rice for their family after worshipping the Sun and the Moon. After eating the prasad, they must fast for 36 hours without water.

Day 3

Sandhya Arghya (Evening Offerings): On the third day of Chhath Puja, devotees fast without water and spend the day preparing puja offerings. These offerings, called prasad, are placed in a bamboo tray and include thekua (a sweet snack), coconut, bananas, and other seasonal fruits. In the evening, the rituals take place at the banks of a river, pond, or any clean water body. All the devotees offer araghya (prayers) to the setting sun.

Day 4

Bihaniya Arghya: On the last day of Chhath Puja, devotees gather again by the river or any water body to offer prayers and prasad to the rising sun. After making the offerings, they break their fast by eating ginger and sugar or any local food available. Once all the rituals are complete, the festival of Chhath Puja comes to an end.

Understanding the Worship of the Rising and Setting Sun

Chhath Puja is the only festival where people worship both the rising and the setting sun. This accepts every part of life because there are good and bad parts, beginnings, and endings. At the time of sunset, people express gratitude for everything that has occurred, while the rising sun gives hope for the future. The balance celebrated through Chhath Puja shows harmony between nature and human life and thus encourages us to face both challenges and blessings.