Chhath Puja 2022: The festive season continues. Chhath festival is being celebrated after Diwali. This year Chhath Puja will start from 28th October 2022 and will end on 31st October. The festival of Chhath is of four days, which is one of the most difficult festivals of India. Nirjala fast is kept for 36 hours in Chhath Puja. The Sun God and Chhathi Maiya are worshiped and offered Arghya. This fast is observed for the prosperity of the family, long life of son and husband and fulfillment of wishes. Bath is eaten on the Chaturthi Tithi of Kartik month. Kharna is offered on the next day and Arghya is offered to the setting sun on the third day. On the fourth day of Chhath festival, the fast is broken after offering Arghya to the rising sun. Although the festival of Chhath is celebrated all over India, but most of it is seen in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Men also do Chhath Puja. In such a situation, if you are going to worship Chhath for the first time, then take special care of some things. Know about the complete method and tradition of Chhath Puja.
The first day of Chhath Puja- bathe and eat
Chhath Puja is starting from 28th October. The first day is celebrated as Nahay Khai. The entire house is cleaned on the first day of Chhath Puja. After bathing, clean food is prepared. The fast is started after consuming the food. According to the belief, the fasting of Chhath should take pumpkin vegetable, gram dal and rice in the food. Keep in mind that other members of the family should eat food only after the fasting person has eaten.
Second day of Chhath Puja- Kharna
Kharna is celebrated on the second day i.e. Panchami Tithi of Kartik Shukla. The people observing fast on this day fast for the whole day and take food in the evening. On the occasion of Kharna, rice kheer made of sugarcane juice, rice pitha and ghee-chupdi roti are prepared as prasad. It is distributed among all in the form of Prasad. The use of both salt and sugar is prohibited in the offerings.
Third day of Chhath Puja – Sandhya Arghya
The Sun God is worshiped on the third day of Chhath Puja. Arghya is offered to the setting sun in the evening. Thekua is made in the prasad on this day. In the evening, Arghya soup is decorated in bamboo baskets. At the same time, those who fast at sunset gather on the banks of a river, pond or pool and offer Arghya to the Sun in a group. Along with offering milk and water to the Sun God, Chhathi Maiya is worshiped with a soup filled with prasad.
Fourth day of Chhath Puja – Usha Arghya
This year Chhath Puja is ending on 31st October. This is the last day of the fast, in which Usha Arghya is offered. Offer arghya to the rising sun in the morning. The whole process is repeated like Sandhya Arghya. This Arghya is also offered collectively. After this the fast is broken by drinking sherbet made of raw milk.