Chaiti Chhath Puja 2024: Chhath Puja happens twice a year. The Chhath festival celebrated on Chaitra Shukla Paksha Shashthi is called Chaiti Chhath and the festival celebrated on Kartik Shukla Paksha Shashthi is called Kartiki Chhath. Chhath festival is celebrated till Shukla Paksha Chaturthi Tithi, Panchami Tithi, Shashthi Tithi and Saptami Tithi of Chaitra month and Kartik month. Shashthi Mata is also known as Katyayani Mata. Therefore, on the day of Chaitra Navratri we worship Shashthi Mata. Shashthi Mata is worshiped at home for the safety and health of family members. The worship of Shashthi Mata, Sun God and Mother Ganga is a popular worship in the country. Chhath Puja is an important puja performed for the natural beauty and welfare of the family. It is mandatory to have a place like Ganga place or river pond in Chhath Puja. For Chhath Puja, along with cleaning all the river ponds, the river ponds are also decorated.
Why is Chaiti Chhath celebrated?
During Chhath Puja, the great festival of folk faith, devotees keep a waterless fast of 36 hours. During Chhath, praying for the long life of their children, devotees offer Arghya to Lord Sun. There is a religious belief that performing Chhath Puja brings happiness, prosperity and peace in the family. There is a tradition of worshiping Lord Sun in Chhath Puja. On the day of Sandhya Arghya, Arghya is offered to Lord Sun as it sets. At the same time, Chhath festival is concluded the next day by offering Arghya to the rising sun. Therefore it is also called Surya Shashthi fast.
rules of chhath puja
The festival of Chhath Puja starts with Nahay-Khay. On this day, after cleaning, there is a tradition of preparing satvik food. One should avoid using garlic and onion in food. Chhath Prasad is made only by those people who have to observe this fast. If you are fasting, then definitely follow cleanliness and purity while making Prasad. If the sanctity of Chhath Prasad is violated then the Prasad will not be usable in worship and your worship will remain incomplete.
Chaiti Chhath Puja 2024: When is Chaiti Chhath Puja? Know Nahay Khay, worship method, worship material and the right time for Surya Arghya.
Chaiti Chhath Puja dates
Chaiti Chhath Puja will start from Nahay Khay on Friday, April 12, 2024. It will conclude with offering Arghya to the rising sun on Monday, April 15, 2024.
Nahay Khay is on Friday, 12th April. The first day of Chaiti Chhath Puja is dedicated to self-purification. On this day, the fasting person prepares rice kheer and dal.
Kharna/Lohanda is on Saturday, 13th April. This is the second day of Chhath Puja. It is known as Kharna or Lohanda. On this day, devotees make prasad of jaggery kheer and puran puri and consume it in the evening.
Evening Arghya is offered on Sunday, 14th April., This day is the third day of Chhath Puja. On this day, in the evening, devotees go to the banks of a river or pond to offer prayers to the setting sun. Arghya includes sacred things like supli, milk, curd, honey, fruits and flowers.
Arghya is offered to the rising sun on Monday, 15th April. This is the fourth and last day of Chhath Puja. On this day, before sunrise in the morning, the devotees again go to the bank of the same river or pond and offer Arghya to the rising sun.