Chhath Puja Date 2024
After Diwali, people eagerly wait for Chhath Puja. Chhath Puja is mainly celebrated in three states, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh. It is celebrated with great pomp in these states. But now, along with many states, Hindus living abroad also celebrate this festival with great pomp and show. Chhath Puja is called the festival of faith. In Chhath Puja, Surya Bhagwan and Chhathi Maiya are worshipped with great devotion. We celebrate Chhath festival 6 days after Diwali. This festival of Chhath Puja lasts for full 4 days. It starts with Nahai-Khai and Kharna, after that, Arghya is offered to the Sun God at the time of sunrise and sunset. And after this, the devotees go waist deep in the river and worship the Sun God by offering Arghya to him. In this, women keep a waterless fast for 36 hours. That is why it is considered very difficult. According to mythological beliefs, by worshipping Chhathi Maiya, the devotee receives blessings of health, happiness, prosperity, and child happiness. On which day and when is Arghya offered during Chhath Mahaparva?
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Know the history and importance of Chhath Mahaparva
According to the scriptures, the name of the father of the Sun God is Maharshi Kashyap and the name of his mother is Aditi. His wife’s name was Sangya, who was the daughter of Vishwakarma ji. Sangya gave birth to a son named Yam and a daughter named Yamuna and from his second wife Chhaya, he got a great son named Shani. Chhath Maiya is also worshipped along with the Sun God in Chhath Puja. She is also called Shashthi Devi. Mother Shashthi Devi is considered to be the Manas Putri of Lord Brahma. She is also called Maa Katyayani. Who is worshipped on the day of Shashthi Tithi in Navratri. Shashthi Devi Maa is called Chhath Maiya in the local language in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. The worship of Chhathi Mata is also mentioned in Brahmavaivarta Purana.
Since when is Chhath Puja?
Chhath Puja is performed 6 days after Diwali. According to the Panchang, this year the Shashti Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month will start at 12:41 am on 7 November and will end at 12:34 am on 8 November. Arghya will be offered in the evening on 7 November, Thursday and in the morning on the next day, 8 November.
When is Nahai Khay and Kharna?
Nahai-Khai will be celebrated on Tuesday 5th November 2024. According to the Panchang, Nahai-Khai will be celebrated on the Chaturthi of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. On this day, women fasting take bath and meditate in Ganga or any holy river and then take Nahai-Khai. There is a tradition of making pumpkin-gourd and rice prasad on the day of Nahai-Khai. This is a tradition that has been going on for many years.
when is kharna
Kharna is celebrated on the Panchami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. This is the second day of Chhath Puja. On this day of Kharna, women keep a waterless fast and worship Chhathi Maiya. After this, there is a tradition of making prasad and consuming it in the evening. This year Kharna is on Wednesday, 6 November 2024.
Offering prayers to the rising and setting sun
7th November is the third day of Chhath Puja. On this day, it is customary to offer Arghya to the setting sun. Then the next morning on Friday, 8th November 2024, Arghya is offered to the rising sun. With this, Chhath Maya Puja comes to an end.
for the long life of the husband
On Chhath festival, women apply sindoor from their nose to their forehead because there is a belief behind this that women apply sindoor in this way for the long life of their husbands. It is said that whichever woman does this, her husband lives a long life and their life is full of happiness and prosperity.
There is a story behind applying vermilion
There is a story behind applying sindoor. It is believed that when Dushasan entered Draupadi’s room roaring, she had not taken her menstrual bath. Due to which she had not filled sindoor in her hair. In such a situation, Dushasan said that she had not yet decided whose name’s sindoor she would apply and saying so, he started pulling Draupadi’s hair. Draupadi could not go in front of such husbands without applying sindoor, so she quickly turned her sindoor box on her head. After that, by mistake, the sindoor went up to her nose, that is why after the disrobing, Draupadi kept her hair open and always applied long sindoor up to her nose, that is why women also apply sindoor up to their nose.
There are three types of vermilion
Three types of Sindoor are used in Chhath Puja. Sindoor has special importance in this festival of faith. Yellow or orange, bright red, earthy sindoor.
