Chhath Puja 2023 - When Is Chhath Puja Celebrated?

Chhath puja is a Hindu festival celebrated in India and Nepal. It is typically celebrated on the sixth day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik, which falls in October or November in the Gregorian calendar. The exact date of the festival varies from year to year. The festival is particularly popular in the state of Bihar in India, where it is considered to be one of the most important festivals of the year. During the festival, devotees offer prayers to the Sun God, Surya, and his wife, Usha, asking for blessings and prosperity. The festival is typically celebrated over a period of four days, and includes rituals such as bathing in holy rivers, fasting, and offering prayers and offerings to the Sun God.

Chhath Puja Vidhi

Chhath Puja is a Hindu festival that is observed with great devotion and reverence in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India, as well as in Nepal. The festival is celebrated to honor the Sun God, Surya, and his wife, Usha. The puja, or ritual, involves several steps and is typically performed over a period of four days.

Here is a general outline of the Chhath Puja Vidhi (rituals):

1. The first day is known as "Nahay Khay" or "Kharna" during which devotees take a holy bath and consume a special meal known as "Kharna," which consists of food that is not cooked using oil or salt.
2. On the second day, known as "Lohanda" devotees fast and prepare for the main puja, which is performed on the third day.
3. On the third day, known as "Sandhya Arghya" devotees observe a full day fast and perform the main puja in the evening. This involves offering prayers and offerings to the Sun God, such as fruits, sweets, and flowers, and singing hymns and devotional songs.
4. On the fourth and final day, known as "Usha Arghya" devotees perform the final puja in the morning and break their fast.

During the puja, devotees are expected to follow certain rules and regulations, such as abstaining from certain activities and consuming certain types of food. The puja is typically performed by women, although men may also participate. It is a time of devotion, purification, and seeking blessings from the Sun God.

Chhath Puja Samagri

During the Chhath Puja, devotees offer a range of items as part of the puja rituals. These items are known as Samagri. Here is a list of some common items that are used in the Chhath Puja Samagri:

1. Fruits: A variety of fresh, seasonal fruits are offered as part of the puja, such as apples, bananas, mangoes, and coconuts.
2. Sweets: Sweet dishes such as kheer (rice pudding), peda (a type of sweet made with milk and sugar), and halwa (a type of sweet made with flour and sugar) are often offered as part of the puja.
3. Flowers: A variety of fresh flowers, such as marigolds, roses, and jasmine, are offered as part of the puja.
4. Incense sticks: Incense sticks are used to create a pleasant fragrance and to purify the air during the puja.
5. Camphor: Camphor is burned during the puja to create a purifying smoke.
6. Coconut: Coconuts are offered as a symbol of good fortune and abundance.
7. Rice: Raw rice is used as an offering during the puja, and is also used to make offerings to the Sun God.
8. Ghee: Ghee (clarified butter) is used in the puja as an offering and for lighting lamps.
9. Water: Water is an important element in the Chhath Puja, and is used for various purposes, such as preparing the puja altar, performing the puja, and offering it to the Sun God.
10. Prasad: Prasad is a sacred offering that is distributed to devotees after the puja. It may include a variety of items, such as sweets, fruits, and other offerings.

Why Celebrated Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja is a Hindu festival that is celebrated to honor the Sun God, Surya, and his wife, Usha. The festival is particularly popular in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India, as well as in Nepal.

According to Hindu mythology, the Sun God, Surya, is considered to be the source of all life and energy on Earth. He is believed to have the power to grant health, wealth, and prosperity to his devotees. The festival of Chhath Puja is a way for devotees to show their gratitude to the Sun God and to seek his blessings.

The festival is also believed to have several other cultural and social significance. It is a time for people to come together and celebrate with their families and friends, and to strengthen the bonds of community. The festival is also seen as a way to promote environmental awareness, as it involves rituals that involve the purification of water bodies and the offering of prayers to the Sun God.

Overall, Chhath Puja is a time for devotion, purification, and seeking blessings from the Sun God. It is an important festival in the Hindu calendar and is celebrated with great devotion and reverence.

When and how did Chhath Puja start?

Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu festival that has been celebrated for centuries. The origins of the festival can be traced back to the Vedic period in ancient India, when the worship of the Sun God, Surya, was considered to be of great importance. The festival is mentioned in several Hindu scriptures, such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, and is believed to have been celebrated since ancient times.

The exact date of the inception of the Chhath Puja festival is not known. However, it is believed to have originated in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the region of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The festival is still widely celebrated in these regions, as well as in Nepal, and has gained popularity in other parts of India and around the world.

The festival is typically celebrated on the sixth day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik, which falls in October or November in the Gregorian calendar. The exact date of the festival varies from year to year. During the festival, devotees offer prayers to the Sun God, Surya, and his wife, Usha, asking for blessings and prosperity. The festival is typically celebrated over a period of four days, and includes rituals such as bathing in holy rivers, fasting, and offering prayers and offerings to the Sun God.