Crowd gathered at the ghats on the second day of Chhath Mahaparva: After worshiping Lord Bhaskar, he went home with Ganga water, Mahaprasad of Kharna will be made

People carrying Ganga water and taking them home.

The beginning of Chhath Puja has started with a bath on Friday. Today is its second day. It is called Kharna or Lohanda. This word signifies purity and sattvikta. Chhath Vrati should remain pure, clean and pure during this entire 4 day festival, Kharna ensures this. On Saturday morning, in many areas including Patna, Bhagalpur, there was a crowd of devotees taking Gangajal for Kharna on the ghats of the Ganges.

From the very early morning, men and women performing the festival were seen collecting Gangajal for worship by taking a dip in the Ganges at various ghats of the Ganges. It is believed that on the occasion of Chhath festival, keeping in mind the purity and purity of Gangajal, only Gangajal is used for worship.

After bathing in the Ganges, aalata was applied to the fast.

Ganga water has special importance in this worship

Gangajal has a special significance on this great festival of folk faith. Mahaprasad of Chhath Puja is made in Gangajal only. Gangajal is considered to be the purest. On the day of Kharna, jaggery kheer is made using Gangajal on an earthen stove and mango wood.

Devotees filling water from the Ganges river.

Kharna means fasting for the whole day

Mahant Santosh Pandey of Patna told that the Chhath festival celebrated on Kartik Shukla Paksha Shashthi is known as Surya Shashthi or Chhath Puja. Today is the second day of Sun God Chhath Mai Kharna Puja on 28 October Saturday. Kharna means fasting for the whole day. It is said that on this day even a drop of water is not accepted by the women of the festival. In the evening, she consumes jaggery kheer, ghee-laden bread and fruits. It is given to the rest of the people to accept it as Prasad.

Devotees carrying Gangakar in the Kalash.

The mention of Chhath Puja is also found in Brahmavaivarta Purana. There is a story that Priyavrata, the son of the first Manu Swayambhu, had no children. Maharishi Kashyap had suggested the king to perform a yajna to get a son. After the yajna, the king got a son but he was dead. After this, Mata Shashthi appeared and after listening to the whole agony, touched the dead son’s body and he became alive, since then he started worshiping Mata Shashti in the form of Chhath Puja. In the Vedas, Lord Surya is said to be the soul of the world. The importance of Chhath Puja of Lord Bhaskar, the soul of the world, is prevalent in most parts of the country including Bihar, Jharkhand.