One of the most important Hindu Vedic festivals celebrated in some parts of the Indian subcontinent, especially in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, Chhath Puja falls on November 10 this year. Ahead of the Chhath Puja, devotees are gearing up for religious rituals and celebrations.
Chhath Puja is dedicated to Lord Surya (Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya. The rituals start on the sixth day of the Hindu calendar month, Kartika, every year. The first day of the festival is called Nahay Khay. The second day is called Kharna, and the third day is the Chhath Puja. The festival will then conclude with Usha Arghya on the fourth day. On the fourth day, people offer Arghya to the rising Sun and then break their nirjala vrat.
Chhath Puja 2021 began on November 8, and it will conclude on November 11.
Rituals
Day 1: Naha Kha/ Nahaye Khaye (November 8, 2021)
On the first day of Chhath, devotees do not consume the food before taking a bath. After taking a bath, they prepare food items like chane ki daal, kheer, and kaddu ki sabzi.
Day 2: Kharna (November 9, 2021
Devotees continue fast till the Kharna puja ends. After puja ends, a combination of jaggery-laden kheer and puris is offered to the gods and distributed among those who’d observed the fast.
Day 3: Pehla Arghya (November 10, 2021)
On the third day of Chhath, devotees observe a rigid fast where they neither consume water nor food. Dedicated to the Sun god’s consort, Chhathi Maiya, the day is marked with folk songs and taking dips in the holy waters of Ganga, Kosi and Karnali.
Day 4: Doosra Arghya/ Paaran (November 11, 2021)
Devotees break their long fast after offering prayers to the rising Sun.
The devotees only eat satvik food prepared without onion and garlic and with utmost hygiene and after taking a bath ever since the day after Diwali and during the four days of Chhath Puja.
