chhath puja 2024 and happy chhath puja

Chhath Puja 2024: Timing and Dates, Celebration, and importance of chhath puja in india

chhath puja kab hai

Chhath Puja is a Hindu festival held in honor of the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya (Mother Goddess) and is celebrated with devotion, rituals, and fasting. Found in many parts of India, especially Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal, Chhath Puja represents the deep spiritual bond between man and nature. During the four-day festival, devotees express their gratitude to the power of the sun. This ancient festival involves strict fasting, sacred baths, and sincere prayers, making it one of the most unique festivals in Hindu culture. It is celebrated from November 8 to November 5, with each day playing a major role in the festival rituals that people are eager to follow as heartfelt devotees. Let’s take a detailed look at the history, significance, culture, and daily activities of this festival.

What is Nahay Khay?

The first day of Chhath Puja is called Nahay Khay. On this day, devotees take a ceremonial bath (Nahana) in a river, pond, or other water body, after which they prepare a meal. Water from the river or pond is used to fuel a stove (chulha) for cooking. The meal is typically a pumpkin dish, symbolizing purity and devotion.

What is Kharna?

The second day, known as Kharna, involves fasting throughout the day, which is broken only after sunset. Devotees prepare roti (flatbread) and kheer (rice pudding), which are first offered to the gods. Afterward, the family and friends gather to share the meal together, often served on a banana leaf, symbolizing unity and togetherness. Following Kharna, devotees enter a rigorous 36-hour fast, abstaining even from water. This makes it one of the most challenging religious practices, driven by devotion and faith.

• Nahay Khay: November 5, from 6:36 AM to 5:33 PM
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• Kharna: November 6, from 6:37 AM to 5:32 PM
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• Sandhya Arghya: November 7, from 6:38 AM to 5:32 PM
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• Usha Arghya: November 8, from 6:38 AM to 5:31 PM
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chhath puja 2024 date

Chhath Puja 2024 begins on Tuesday, November 5 and ends on Friday, November 8.

Day 1: Nahay-Khay (November 5, 2024 - Tuesday)

Date and timing: November 5, 2024

Day: Tuesday(manglwar)

Tithi: Chaturthi

Sunrise: 06:36 AM

Sunset: 05:33 PM

The ceremony begins with Nahay- Khay, which means "bath and meal". The first step is a ritual bath, usually in holy water or another body of water. This bath is meant to wash away impurities in preparation for the subsequent worship. This dish is cooked without adding garlic, onion or spices to keep it clean and is shared with family members. Devotees eat this meal as the only meal of the day, marking the beginning of their devotion to the sun god. Life leads to discipline and devotion to Chhath Puja.

Day 2: Lohanda and Kharna (November 6, 2024 - Wednesday)

On the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Lohanda and Kharna, devotees enter a more intense phase of fasting.

• Morning to Evening (Lohanda):

  • Devotees fast from sunrise (6:37 AM) to sunset (5:32 PM), without food or water.
  • Lohanda, meaning "day of cleansing," symbolizes the cleansing of both the mind and spirit.

• Evening Ritual (Kharna):

  • After sunset, devotees break their fast with a ritual meal called Kharna.
  • The meal consists of kheer (a sweet rice pudding made with jaggery), rice, and chapati (flatbread).
  • This food is treated as prasad, or a sacred offering, and is eaten with gratitude and respect.

• Starting the 36-Hour Fast:

• Following Kharna, devotees begin a continuous 36-hour fast, during which they do not consume any food or water.
• This fast continues until they make their final offering to the rising sun on the last day of Chhath Puja.
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Day 3: Chhath Puja, Sandhya Arghya (November 7, 2024 - Thursday)

On the third day of Chhath Puja, known as Sandhya Arghya or the Evening Offering, devotees gather at riverbanks, ponds, or other water bodies with baskets of offerings to honor the Sun God.

• Tithi and Timing:

  • Date: November 7, 2024
  • Day: Thursday
  • Tithi: Shashthi (starting at 12:41 AM on November 7 and ending at 12:34 AM on November 8)
  • Sunrise: 6:38 AM
  • Sunset: 5:32 PM

• The Offerings:

  • Devotees bring bamboo baskets filled with fruits, thekua (a traditional sweet made with wheat flour, jaggery, and ghee), and other sacred items.

• Evening Ritual (Sandhya Arghya):

  • As the sun begins to set, devotees stand in the water, often waist-deep, and offer Arghya—a ritual offering of holy water—to the Sun God.
  • This gesture is a way to thank and show reverence to the Sun for its daily blessings of warmth, energy, and life.

• A Sense of Community and Devotion:

  • Family, friends, and community members come together to sing traditional songs and hymns dedicated to Chhathi Maiya and the Sun God, creating a spiritual and unifying atmosphere.
  • This ritual expresses the harmony between humanity and nature, as devotees show their gratitude for the Sun's life-sustaining energy.
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Day 4: Usha Arghya, Parana Day (November 8, 2024 - Friday)

The last day of Chhath Puja, known as Usha Arghya or the Morning Offering, brings the four-day festival to a close and marks the end of the devotees' fast.

• Key Details:

  • Date: November 8, 2024
  • Day: Friday
  • Tithi: Saptami
  • Sunrise: 6:38 AM
  • Sunset: 5:31 PM

• The Morning Ceremony (Usha Arghya):

  • Before dawn, families gather along riverbanks or near water bodies, ready to greet the rising sun with prayer and offerings.
  • As the sun rises, devotees stand in the water, facing east, to offer Arghya—a gesture symbolizing fresh starts, renewed vitality, and blessings for well-being and prosperity.

• Breaking the Fast:

  • This sunrise ritual concludes the Chhath Puja observances, allowing devotees to end their fast. They then enjoy prasad (blessed food) together, sharing it with family, friends, and neighbors.

• Sharing Blessings:

  • Following the Usha Arghya, the prasad is distributed among loved ones, spreading the blessings and goodwill of the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. This final act reinforces the community spirit of the festival, symbolizing unity, gratitude, and shared joy.
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