Chhath Puja – The 4-Day Fasting Festival and Significance of Each Day

India is blessed to have two extra seasons as compared to the rest of the world. We have an additional wedding season and a festive season. The festive season is almost coming to an end, with one of the most auspicious festivals starting today. We are talking about the Chhath Puja festival. It is a 4-day festival that begins today. As the sun sets over the tranquil waters, reverence washes over the devotees on the riverbanks. Chhath Puja, a sacred celebration of light, love, and gratitude, awakens the soul. This festival is celebrated by the people of Bihar, UP, and Jharkhand, but these days, almost the entire country is celebrating it.

This one is an ancient festival, steeped in tradition and devotion, honours the Sun God, Surya, and his divine energy. Let’s just not call it a festival but an emotion for all Biharis (especially). For millions, Chhath Puja is more than a ritual; it’s a poignant expression of faith, a testament to the unwavering bond between family and community. If you are a Bihari or if you have special sentiments attached to this festival then you probably know what we are talking about. In this sacred space, tears of joy and gratitude mingle with the holy waters, purifying the heart and nourishing the spirit.

Diwali is just not the end of the festive season for the people who celebrate Chhath Puja. Along with the celebrations, enjoyment, lighting, decorations, food, prasad, etc, this festival is all about worshipping by keeping a fast. So, all families that celebrate Chhath Puja or have a Chhath Puja celebration at their place have at least one member doing the fasting. The rest of the family members and friends are there to support them, enjoy, celebrate, take part in the worship, and seek blessings of the Sun god, Chhathi Maiya, and the person who is fasting.

This year’s celebrations begin on November 5 with Nahay Khay, marking the commencement of the festivities. The pinnacle of the festival, Chhath Puja or Sandhya Arghya, takes place on November 7. The grand finale, Usha Arghya, concludes the celebrations on November 8. Traditionally observed on the sixth day of the Kartika lunar month, Chhath Puja is a poignant display of devotion. Let’s delve into the significance and rituals of each day, exploring how devotees observe this auspicious festival.

Let’s deep dive into this festival and learn a little bit more about it.

The 4 Days of Chhath Puja

• Nahay Khay
• Kharna
• Sandhya Arghya
• Usha Arghya

Significance of All 4 Days

Nahay Khay – The first day of Chhath Puja is the Nahay Khay. The Chhath Puja journey begins with Nahay Khay. The word Nahay Khay translates to ‘bathing and eating’. It means that the devotees or the person who is fasting has to take a bath and eat the prasad of the day. On this auspicious day, devoted people embark on a sacred ritual, performing a heartfelt puja followed by strict adherence to Saatvik cuisine. The Prasad of the day includes rice (Chawal), bottle guard’s curry (lauki ki subzi), and other accompaniments including daal, and some other things as well.

This simple yet profound diet consists of pure, vegetarian delicacies – rice, gram, lentils, gourd, pumpkin, and select vegetables, all prepared with minimal spices. Day 1 of Chhath Puja, Nahay Khay, commences with a sacred puja and saatvik food. The revered Chhath prasad is prepared on a meticulously cleaned stove, exclusively by fasting devotees, emphasising spiritual purity and devotion. It is the rule of the day that the person who is doing the fast will eat the prasad first, and then the family members are going to join. The entire family have to eat this prasad as lunch. It is a beautiful day where the entire family sits together to have a meal.

Kharna – The second day of the festival is Kharna. It is the day from which the devotees start the fasting. This is the day from which the rigorous fasting starts. The people who do Chhath Puja observe a strict fast without food or water from sunrise until sunset. In the evening, they break the fast after performing a puja, consuming roti and kheer prepared earlier in the day. Kheer and Roti is the main prasad of the Kharna day. Many people, relatives, friends, neighbours, family members, everyone visit the devotee’s house where Chhath Puja is being done to have this prasad. This prasad is considered very powerful, auspicious, and sacred. People feel blessed to be able to have even a bite of this prasad.

After this, they take a vow to observe a nirjala fast for the remaining days of the festival. However, on this day, Bhadra’s shadow will fall, which is deemed inauspicious. Therefore, devotees should refrain from performing any auspicious work during this time. The timing for Bhadra will begin at 11:54 am and go on till 12:16 am the following day. It is like a party on this day in the house of the devotees because they serve kheer roti in a lavish style to everyone who visits their place. By lavish, we mean delightfully.

Sandhya Arghya – This is the first day when the actual puja begins. This is the day when the devotees pray to the Sun God and the river. This is technically the third day. Sandhya Arghya means the prayers offered to the Gods at sunset or evening time. On the third day of Chhath Puja, devotees gather at the riverside for the sacred evening prayers. They carry traditional offerings of fruits and thekua in intricately woven baskets to honour the Sun God and revered Goddess Chhathi Maiya. A lot of people also perform this ritual from their homes as well on the terrace, balcony, garden, or any open space because of the convenience. People install fake huge tubs in which they take a dip. They fill this tub with clean water and some flower petals for the aesthetic.

As the sun dips into the horizon at the designated time, devotees wade into the water, waist-deep, to offer the first Arghya to the Sun God. This poignant moment marks the beginning of the Sandhya Arghya ritual.

Usha Arghya – As the name says, Usha Arghya means the sunrise arghya. Chhath Puja culminates with Usha Arghya, a sacred dawn ritual. On November 8, devotees gather to offer Arghya to the rising sun, seeking its divine blessings. It is the most beautiful sunrise to ever witness. As the festival concludes, the divine energy of Chhath Puja lingers, filling the hearts of devotees with gratitude, hope, and spiritual renewal.

Conclusion

As the final arghya is offered to the rising sun, Chhath Puja’s sacred journey comes full circle. This is how this beautiful festival is completed. Tears of joy, prayers, and gratitude mingle with the holy waters, nourishing the soul. The fulfilment of completing this festival with content makes everyone happy. Everyone prays for their families, their health, their wealth, and for a peaceful year.

This ancient festival weaves together faith, family, and community, reminding us of life’s preciousness. The entire family coming together to support the person who is fasting and making things fun for them is the best feeling of this festival. As devotees bid farewell to Chhath Maiya, the divine energy lingers, illuminating the path ahead. May the warmth of love, light, and devotion linger in our hearts, guiding us through life’s ebbs and flows. Chhath Puja’s essence remains a celebration of hope, resilience, and the eternal power of faith. Happy Chhath Puja to one and all. May Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya bring all good health, positive wishes, peaceful lives, and lots of wealth to all of you.

India is blessed to have two extra seasons as compared to the rest of the world. We have an additional wedding season and a festive season. The festive season is almost coming to an end, with one of the most auspicious festivals starting today. We are talking about the Chhath Puja festival. It is a…