Chhath Puja
🗓️ Kartik Shukla Shashthi (Oct–Nov)
The story behind Chhath Puja
Chhath is the four-day observance of Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh, given to Surya and to Chhathi Maiya. Its central act is unusual: the first arghya is offered to the setting sun, and only the next morning to the rising one — gratitude to the light as it goes, before petition to it as it returns. The vratis, most of them women, keep a waterless fast of roughly thirty-six hours and stand in the river to make the offering. There is no priest and no murti; the observance is performed directly.
Chhath Puja Puja Vidhi
- 1
Nahay Khay
On the first day bathe in a river, clean the house, and eat a single sattvik meal of kaddu-bhat cooked without onion or garlic.
- 2
Kharna
On the second day fast through the day and break it after sunset with kheer of jaggery and roti; the waterless fast begins from this moment.
- 3
Sandhya Arghya
On the third evening stand in the water and offer arghya to the setting sun from a soop of thekua, sugarcane and seasonal fruit.
- 4
Usha Arghya & Parana
On the fourth dawn offer arghya to the rising sun, then break the fast with the prasad and distribute it.
Chhath Puja Mantra
ॐ एहि सूर्य सहस्रांशो तेजोराशे जगत्पते। अनुकम्पय मां भक्त्या गृहाणार्घ्यं दिवाकर॥
Meaning
Come, O Surya of a thousand rays, mass of light, lord of the world; be gracious to me who am devoted, and accept this arghya, O maker of day.
How to chant
Recited while standing in the water and offering arghya, at both the evening and the dawn offering.