Chhath Pooja

Chhath is an ancient Hindu festival and only Vedic Festival dedicated to the Hindu Sun God, Surya and Chhathi Maiya (ancient Vedic Goddess Usha). The Chhath Puja is performed in order to thank Surya for sustaining life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes.Believed to be the god of light- Surya and Shashthi Devi are worshipped on this day for promoting life, wellbeing, and prosperity of human beings.

According to Mahabharata, Lord Surya’s son Karna was the first person to perform Chhath puja. He offered a prayer to Lord Surya while standing in water and exposing his body. Later, he also offered food to the needy. It is also said that Pandavas also performed these rituals to regain their kingdom from Kauravas.

Rituals performed during Chhath Puja:-

Chhath puja is a four-day event. These four-day events include taking holy baths at the river, fasting, preparing and offering Prasad, and lastly arghya to the sun during sunrise.

   

     The First day of chhath puja is called Nahai Khai, Its literal meaning is bathing and eating. The devotees on the first day of puja bathe in water bodies. After that they prepare the             traditional Prasad, the ladies are always the first ones to eat the Prasad and after that, the whole family eats.

On the second day, the devotees observe fast until dusk. People end their fast only after sunset. They  don’t eat or drink anything before sunset. After worshipping Lord Surya on this day and ending their fast, people again observe a fast for 36 hours. 

On the third day of puja, the ladies mostly wear yellow sarees and prepare food which is later offered to the sun. This day goes without eating and drinking anything as a part of the 36 hours long fast. The ladies take a dip into the water and offer fruits to the setting sun.

The prasad offerings include sweets, Kheer, Thekua and fruit offered in small bamboo soop winnows. The food is strictly vegetarian and it is cooked without salt, onions or garlic. Emphasis is put on maintaining the purity of the food. 

Lots of delicious food is then prepared for the people who observed the fast and that’s how the four- day festival of Chhath puja ends.