Chhath Puja or Surya Shashti • Festival date, rituals

Chhath Puja is also popularly known as Surya Sashthi or Pratihar Sashthi. It is the festival of worshipping Surya, Sun God and is celebrated six days just after Diwali. Chhath Puja is known to be one of the ancient Hindu festivals and therefore holds great significance for the Hindu community. This puja is performed to express gratitude to Sun God for sustaining life on planet Earth.

Chhath Puja

When it is celebrated?

Chhath Puja is observed on the Kartika Shukla Shasthi that is the sixth day of the Kartika month as per the Hindu calendar. If we see the Gregorian calendar it typically falls during the months of October or mid-November. The precise date of celebrating Chhath Puja is however decided by the Central body of Janakpurdham located in Nepal and is applicable in every part of the world.

Who celebrates it?

Chhath puja is a big festival for Hindus all over India and abroad. People from all caste and creed worship Sun God to acquire prosperity, progress and well-being.

Importance of celebration

Chhath festival is celebrated to worship the God of Energy, Sun God and is means to offer thanks for blessing the life on planet Earth. Devotees each year pray Surya enthusiastically to seek success and well-being of the family members and friends. According to beliefs in Hinduism, performing the sacred Chhath Puja also cures chronic diseases like leprosy.

Where it is celebrated?

Even though Chhath Puja is celebrated will full zeal all over India, the celebrations in the state of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh are unmatchable. Even in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Mumbai and Goa, Chhath festival is celebrated with equal dedication.

Important Timings On Chhath Puja

How it is celebrated?

Chhath Puja takes the form of 4-day long celebrations and each day has its own significance and ritual. On the first day the devotees get up before sunrise and take a Holy bath in the Ganges. The home is thoroughly cleaned and they eat only one specially prepared meal called ‘kaddu bhat’. On the second day that is Panchami, the devotees observe fast during the day time. During the evening Mother Earth is worshipped and the fast is broken. After this meal the devotees go on a strict 36 hours fast without drinking even a drop of water.

On the third day, the actual day of Chhath Puja the devotees offer Sanjhiya Argha at the time of sunset on a river bank. After the puja it is essential to wear clothes in turmeric color.

On the morning of the fourth day, Paarun Bihaniya Argha is offered at the time of sunrise. While standing in the water, they offer ‘aragh’ and ‘prasad’ to the rising Sun. The fast is then broken by eating the Chhath Prasad.

Holiday

Chhath Puja is declared as restricted holiday by the Government of India and all government offices and business remain operational on this day. However, in the sates of Bihar and Jharkhand it is granted a complete holiday.