Chhath Puja begins today! Six days after Diwali, the mega festival of Chhath Puja is celebrated with high fervor and certain puja rituals are followed. Let's read the puja vidhi and know auspicious muhurat of Chhath. Along with that, read the importance of Sandhya (Evening) Arghya and Usha (Morning) Arghya as well.
Note: Above mentioned muhurat is applicable within New Delhi. Click here to know the Chhath Puja muhurat for your city.
हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें
The festival of Chhath is widely celebrated on the Shukla Shashti in the month of Kartik in the regions of Bihar, Jharkhand and East Uttar Pradesh. Amongst all major festivals, Chhath Puja is considered to be one of the biggest celebrations in these regions and commemorated with high zeal and enthusiasm. On this day, Chhath Mata and Lord Sun is worshiped. Although it’s a four-day affair, but third and fourth day is of great significance, which is also known as Sandhya (Evening) Argya and Usha (Morning) Arghya.
On the day of Chhath Puja, the Chhathi Maiya is specially worshiped. According to a mythological belief, Chhath Puja is specially done by women for the longevity of their children. It is believed that the Chhathi Maiya, who is also known as Sashthi Mata, is especially known to be the Goddess who blesses children with a long, healthy life. She is also considered as the form of Mother Katyayani, who is locally hailed as the Chhathi Maiya.
Chhath Puja begins on this very special day. On this day, women who are keen on fasting wake up early in the morning and take a bath. They clean the house and consume vegetarian food only.
Second day of Chhath Puja is called as Kharna. On this day, women keep Nirjala fast (fasting without drinking water) throughout the day and in the evening, offer jaggery based kheer, fruits and ghee-applied chapatis to the gods as a prasad and then consume themselves along with distributing other members of the family.
Sandhya Argh is considered the most important during Chhath. On the Shashthi of Kartik Shukla during Sandhya Arghya, raw milk and water is offered to Lord Sun. On this day, all the fasting women reach the Ghats with their families, and keep thekua, rice sweets or laddus and fruits on bamboo made baskets in the form of Prasad. On the evening of Sandhya Arghya during the sunset, the Sun is offered Argya and folk songs and mythological stories related to Chhathi Mata is also heard.
Usha Arghya or offering water during Sunrise marks the end of the Chhath festival. Even before sunrise, fasting women reach the ghat and offer Arghya to the rising Sun. women who are fasting wish for the longevity of their kids and happiness of the family. After worshiping, all fasting women open their fast by eating the Prasad and drinking the Sharbat made by raw milk.
Follow this method when giving Arghya: First of all, keep all the above mentioned items in the bamboo and brass baskets. After that, light an incense stick and diya in every winnowing basket. After that, offer arghya to Sun by stepping into the river or lake.
Chhath Puja is known as the mega-festival celebrating religious and cultural faith. This festival marks a special significance about making special offerings or Arghya to Lord Sun. In Hindu mythology, major importance is given to Lord Sun, as he is the only God who can be seen directly by natives. Holy sun rays are powerful enough to eliminate diseases and make a man confident and healthy enough.
On the occasion of Chhath, people worship Chhathi Maiya and Lord Sun especially for the longevity and health of their children. It is believed that if prayed with a honest and true heart, wishes get fulfilled.
If seen from astrological and celestial point of view, Chhath festival evokes highest importance because on the sixth day of Shukla Paksha, Sun gets located in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth and it is considered as a special astronomical event. During this period, ultraviolet rays of Sun get accumulated within the Earth’s atmosphere in large quantities, hereby transmitting harmful effects to humans. In order to avoid such situation, Lord Sun is worshipped on the special occasion of Chhath and offered Arghya.
Chhath Puja Muhurat 2018 for New Delhi, India
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13 November Sandhya Arghya, Sunset Timings
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17:28:46 PM
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14 November Usha Arghya, Sunrise Timings
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06:42 :31 AM
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Note: Above mentioned muhurat is applicable within New Delhi. Click here to know the Chhath Puja muhurat for your city.
हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें
The festival of Chhath is widely celebrated on the Shukla Shashti in the month of Kartik in the regions of Bihar, Jharkhand and East Uttar Pradesh. Amongst all major festivals, Chhath Puja is considered to be one of the biggest celebrations in these regions and commemorated with high zeal and enthusiasm. On this day, Chhath Mata and Lord Sun is worshiped. Although it’s a four-day affair, but third and fourth day is of great significance, which is also known as Sandhya (Evening) Argya and Usha (Morning) Arghya.
Worship Chhath Mata and Lord Sun This Way!
On the day of Chhath Puja, the Chhathi Maiya is specially worshiped. According to a mythological belief, Chhath Puja is specially done by women for the longevity of their children. It is believed that the Chhathi Maiya, who is also known as Sashthi Mata, is especially known to be the Goddess who blesses children with a long, healthy life. She is also considered as the form of Mother Katyayani, who is locally hailed as the Chhathi Maiya.
Chhath Puja: A Four-Day Festival
- First Day: Nahaye Khaye
Chhath Puja begins on this very special day. On this day, women who are keen on fasting wake up early in the morning and take a bath. They clean the house and consume vegetarian food only.
- Second Day: Kharna
Second day of Chhath Puja is called as Kharna. On this day, women keep Nirjala fast (fasting without drinking water) throughout the day and in the evening, offer jaggery based kheer, fruits and ghee-applied chapatis to the gods as a prasad and then consume themselves along with distributing other members of the family.
- Third Day: Sandhya Arghya
Sandhya Argh is considered the most important during Chhath. On the Shashthi of Kartik Shukla during Sandhya Arghya, raw milk and water is offered to Lord Sun. On this day, all the fasting women reach the Ghats with their families, and keep thekua, rice sweets or laddus and fruits on bamboo made baskets in the form of Prasad. On the evening of Sandhya Arghya during the sunset, the Sun is offered Argya and folk songs and mythological stories related to Chhathi Mata is also heard.
- Fourth Day: Usha Arghya
Usha Arghya or offering water during Sunrise marks the end of the Chhath festival. Even before sunrise, fasting women reach the ghat and offer Arghya to the rising Sun. women who are fasting wish for the longevity of their kids and happiness of the family. After worshiping, all fasting women open their fast by eating the Prasad and drinking the Sharbat made by raw milk.
Chhath Puja Rituals
- Collect all these ingredients before the puja:
- Plate, milk, glass, three bamboo baskets and three bamboo or brass winnowing baskets.
- Coconut, sugarcane, sweet potato, grapefruit or big lemon, rosemary, red vermilion, rice, raw turmeric, water chestnut or Singhara.
- Camphor, sandalwood, honey, betel leaves, betel nut, pears.
- For prasad, keep Malpua, kheer puri, thekua, semolina pudding or suji ka halwa and rice laddus.
Follow this method when giving Arghya: First of all, keep all the above mentioned items in the bamboo and brass baskets. After that, light an incense stick and diya in every winnowing basket. After that, offer arghya to Sun by stepping into the river or lake.
Religious Significance
Chhath Puja is known as the mega-festival celebrating religious and cultural faith. This festival marks a special significance about making special offerings or Arghya to Lord Sun. In Hindu mythology, major importance is given to Lord Sun, as he is the only God who can be seen directly by natives. Holy sun rays are powerful enough to eliminate diseases and make a man confident and healthy enough.
On the occasion of Chhath, people worship Chhathi Maiya and Lord Sun especially for the longevity and health of their children. It is believed that if prayed with a honest and true heart, wishes get fulfilled.
Astrological & Celestial Importance of Chhath
If seen from astrological and celestial point of view, Chhath festival evokes highest importance because on the sixth day of Shukla Paksha, Sun gets located in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth and it is considered as a special astronomical event. During this period, ultraviolet rays of Sun get accumulated within the Earth’s atmosphere in large quantities, hereby transmitting harmful effects to humans. In order to avoid such situation, Lord Sun is worshipped on the special occasion of Chhath and offered Arghya.
We hope that you like this article based on the occasion of Chhath Puja. Happy Chhath Puja to all the readers!
