Chhath Puja, a four-day ritual celebrated principally by the people of Bihar and Jharkhand, culminates on the sixth day of shukla paksha in the month of kartik. This year, Chhath Puja will be observed on November 8 and the festival will end on November 12. Mainly the Sun and Chhathi Mayya are worshipped. A fast is observed for the happiness, prosperity and longevity of children. The main prayers of Chhath are offered on shashti, but secondary rituals start with bathing and eating on the chaturthi of kartik shukla paksha.
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These are
the high points of the festival:
Nahai Khai or Naha Khay
The first day of Chhath Puja is known as Naha Khay. On this day, worshippers take a bath and wear clean clothes before cooking prasad made of moong-chana dal, pumpkin and bottle gourd. This is eaten once a day during the four-day fast.
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Lohanda
The second day of Chhath Puja is known as Lohanda. On this day, worshippers mark a full-day fast and prepare a special prasad of kheer made with gud and arwa chawal. After eating the prasad, worshippers begin a 36-hour nirjala fast in which they do not even drink water.
Sandhya Arghya
Sandhya Arghya is the third day of the festival when worshippers pray and rest at home. At sunset they offer arghya to the sun at a water body. This is also known as Pehli Arghya. Once bank home, worshippers eat thekua, a prasad made with jaggery and flour.
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Usha Arghya
The fourth and final day of Chhath is known as Usha Arghya when worshippers pray to the sun with their feet submerged in water. They then break their fast by eating prasad. This prasad is also distributed among family and friends.
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The festival
has a unique importance in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal,
and Uttar Pradesh, and in the Madhesh region of Nepal.
