“Chhath Puja 2024: Celebrating Devotion to the Sun God and Nature’s Blessings”
Chhath Puja, a significant Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, will be celebrated in 2024 with traditional fervor and devotion. This four-day festival, observed mainly in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal, honors the Sun God for granting life and prosperity. In 2024, Chhath Puja begins on Wednesday, November 6 with Nahay Khay and culminates on Saturday, November 9 with the ritual of Usha Arghya, the morning offering to the rising sun.
Significance of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja holds immense cultural and spiritual significance, as it is believed to bring peace, health, and prosperity. The festival is devoted to thanking the Sun God for sustaining life on Earth and for his constant energy. Chhathi Maiya, considered the sister of the Sun God, is also venerated for her protective and nurturing qualities, especially for ensuring the welfare of children and family. The festival emphasizes purity, gratitude, and a close connection to nature.
Key Rituals of Chhath Puja
Each of the four days of Chhath Puja has distinct rituals:
- Nahay Khay (Day 1) – Devotees cleanse themselves and begin fasting. They consume only a single meal after taking a bath, usually prepared with ingredients sourced from the riverbank, to maintain purity.
- Kharna (Day 2) – On this day, fasting continues without food or water from sunrise to sunset. In the evening, devotees break the fast with a simple meal of kheer (rice pudding) and roti, and then resume a 36-hour Nirjala fast (without food or water).
- Sandhya Arghya (Day 3) – Devotees gather at riverbanks or other bodies of water to offer Sandhya Arghya, the evening prayer to the setting sun. They prepare offerings (Prasad) in baskets, containing fruits, thekua (a traditional sweet), and other items, symbolizing gratitude.
- Usha Arghya (Day 4) – The festival culminates with Usha Arghya, the morning offering to the rising sun, symbolizing new beginnings and vitality. After the morning prayers, devotees break their fast and share the prasad with family and friends.
Unique Aspects of Chhath Puja
Unlike other festivals, Chhath Puja has no idols. Devotees worship natural elements, particularly the Sun and water. The festival is also unique for its strict observance of purity, fasting, and rituals, which are often handed down through generations.
Chhath Puja 2024 will be celebrated with the same spirit of devotion, bringing families and communities together to honor nature’s bounty and seek blessings for well-being and prosperity.
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