In the midst of the folk songs, delicious sweets and exotic fruits, people rush to the ghats to celebrate the Chhath Puja 2017. The four-day festival is celebrated just four days after Diwali in the month of 'Kartik' according to Hindu calender.
Also known as Chhathi, Chhath Parv, Dala Chhath, Dala Puja and Surya Shashthi, the festival is mainly popular in Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
History and Significance of Chhath Puja
In Chhath Puja, devotees offer prayers for the Sun God (Lord Surya) and his wife Usha seeking blessings for fulfilment of their wishes and desires.
According to legends, Draupadi and the Pandavas had performed the Chhath Puja after they were advised by sage Dhaumya.
After they worshipped 'Lord Surya', their problems were solved or vanished and the Pandavas also regained their lost freedom.
Another story behind the Chhath Puja celebrations is that after 14 years of exile when Lord Ram, Sita and Laxman returned to Aayodhya, Sita observed a fast. Sita observed the fast and offered prayers to Sun God in the Kartik month in Shukla Paksha. And hence the day was since then marked as the Hindu Vedic festival.
Chhath Puja days and celebrations (Fasting rituals)
Nahay Khay: This is the first day of Chhath Puja celebrations and the devotees take morning sacred dip into the holy waters, mainly, in the Ganga, Kosi river and Karnali. They carry the holy water to their home to prepare offerings (prasad) for the Sun God.
Lohanda: This is the second day of celebrations where devotees fast till the sunset. They prepare their 'prasad' consisting of kheer, bananas and rice. After consuming the offering, they again start their next cycle of fast for another 36 hours without water.
Sandhya Arghya (evening offerings): On the third day, after preparing prasad, people take holy bath in the water bodies at the time of dusk and worship Sun God and Chhathi Mata. Folk songs are also played and sung to celebrate this day.
Usha Arghya (morning offerings): This is the last day of Chhath Puja celebrations where the devotees gather around the holy waters and break their fast after offer 'prasad' (Ursha arghya) to the Sun. A special sweet called 'Thekua’ is prepared during this festival and is offered as the prasad.
Chhath Puja 2017 dates
Tuesday, October 24, 2017 (Day 1) : The day of holy bath and eating.
Wednesday, October 25, 2017 (Day 2) : The day of fast that ends after sunset and beginning of the 36-hour long fasting.
Thursday, October 26, 2017 (Day 3) : the day of evening offerings known as Sandhya Arghya.
Friday, October 27, 2017 (Day 4) : the day of sunrise offerings known as Suryodaya Arghya and breaking of the fast.
Chhath Puja 2017 Muhurat Timings
Chhath Puja Day - Sunrise at 06:41 am
Chhath Puja Day - Sunset at 18:05 pm
Chhath Pooja Tithi
Shashthi Tithi Begins at 09:37am on October 25, 2017
Shashthi Tithi Ends at 12:15 pm on October 26, 2017
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