Chhath Puja is one of the most celebrated festivals in India and has great spiritual significance. This festival is celebrated mainly in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and certain regions of Nepal.

This festival is celebrated to worship Surya Dev (The Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya (Mother Nature) to seek blessings.

Chhath Puja is a celebration of 4 days and it comes after the festival of Diwali. Millions of people celebrate Chhath Puja with pure devotion and great enthusiasm. 

DIDM honors the timeless beauty of Chhath puja and celebrates the festival to pay respect to nature with pure devotion.

Significance of Chhath Pooja

The Chhath puja festival is dedicated to Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya and is celebrated twice a year during the two Indian months of Chaitra and Kartika.

To celebrate this day women sing songs and celebrate this 4 days long festival with many festivities, new clothes, delicious foods, and pure devotion.

There are many epic Indian stories behind the Chhath Pooja celebration and two of the most significant are from Ramayan and Mahabharat.

It is believed that lord Ram when he returned to Ayodhya from Vanvasa then he and his wife Maa Sita observed a fast to honor the Sun god and broke the fast with the setting sun. From there this celebration begins and subsequently evolves to Chhath puja.

Karna is one of the most famous characters of Mahabharat and is said to be the child of the Sun god and maa Kunti. It is believed that Karna used to offer prayers while standing in the water to the Sun god. Another story from the same Mahabharat mentions the grand Puja performed by the Draupadi and the Pandavas to get their kingdom back from the Kauravas.

he scientific significance of performing Chhath Puja is that it offers the best way to detoxify your body and improve the overall functionality of your body. To have a dip in the cold water starts detoxification and sun exposure increases the solar flow and bioelectricity into your body. These rituals help you prepare your body for the upcoming winter.

Important Rituals of Chhath Puja

Each day of Chhath Puja is celebrated with unique rituals and different spiritual methods:

Day 1: Nahay Khay

On this day, the pooja of Chhath Puja is started and the devotees take a holy bath in the rivers and purify their mind and soul. This ritual is very significant as it prepares the people for the fasting days and gives them power. On the first day of puja, women prepare many traditional foods like rice, pumpkin curry, dal, and others for the family to start the four-day celebration.

Day 2: Kharna

The second day of the Chhath Puja is started by vigorous fasting and all the devotees break their fast in the evening after offering Prasad to the sun God. The Prasad is typically made of rice pudding or kheer. The meal which the devotees consumed after the worshipping of the Sun god is a reminder of purity and self-control. After that, the devotees resume a 36-hour strict fasting without water. This fasting showcase is pure devotion and commitment to the beloved sun God and Chhathi Maiya. 

Day 3: Sandhya Arghya

In the evening of the third day, the devotees with families gather on the river banks to offer argha which means prayers to the setting sun. Devotees prepare ‘Daures’ which are offerings in the form of traditional baskets made of bamboo filled with fruits, ‘Thekua’, and other symbolic items. ‘Thekua’ is a dish that is sweet and made of wheat flour and jaggery. The Arghya is offered by singing traditional folk songs with pure hearts. 

Day 4: Usha Arghya 

On the final day of Chhath puja, Devotees pray for the rising Sun and gather at the bank early in the morning. This Usha argay is offered to have the blessings and protection of the Sun god. After the offering, devotees broke their 36-hour fast by sharing the blessed Prasad with their family and friends and beautifully completed the festival with an atmosphere of love and feelings of celebration.

Our Wishes for You!

DIDM honors the beautiful festival of Chhath Puja and celebrates the festival with pure devotion and respect for the Sun god. We want to wish everyone who celebrates Chhath puja and we pray for the blessings of the Sun god to bring prosperity, health and happiness to all your lives.

Happy Chhath Puja to you and your loved ones from the DIDM family!
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