Chhath Puja 2023 Date in India: Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the Surya Dev and Shashthi Devi. Chhath Puja is celebrated after Diwali for four days. Chhath Puja, the festival for worshipping Surya, the Sun God and his sister Usha (Chhathi Maiya) is going to be celebrated by crores of devotees.
It is mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh in India and some parts of Nepal. Chhath Puja is also known as Surya Shashthi, Chhath Mahaparv, Chhath Parv, Dala Puja, Pratihar, and Dala Chhath.?
This year, Chhath Puja will be celebrated on Friday, November 17, and last until Monday, November 20, 2023.
The four-day festival starts with the Chhath Nahay Khay, which will be celebrated on Friday, November 17 this year. The second day is Lohanda and Kharna which will take place on Saturday, November 18. On the evening of the third day, Sunday, November 19, Sandhya Arghya will be offered to the Sun God. The festival will end with the offering of Usha Arghya to the rising Sun on the morning of the fourth day on Monday, November 20, 2023.
Chhath Puja Rituals | Date and Day |
---|---|
Chhath Nahay Khay | Friday, November 17 |
Lohanda and Kharna | Saturday, November 18 |
Sandhya Arghya | Sunday, November 19 |
Usha Arghya | Monday, November 20 |
Sunrise on Chhath Puja Day: 06:40 AM
Sunset on Chhath Puja Day: 05:26 PM
In Bihar, This year, Chhath Puja will be celebrated on Friday, November 17, and last until Monday, November 20. During the puja, women fast for 36 hours and pray for the health, happiness, and long life of their children.?Have a look at the ritual calendar for Chhath Puja 2023.
City | Sunset Timings |
---|---|
Delhi | 5:27 PM |
Gaya | 5:02 PM |
Patna | 5:00 PM |
Ranchi | 5:03 PM |
Noida | 5:26 PM |
Samastipur? | 4:57 PM |
Aurangabad | 5:49 PM |
Lucknow | 4:52 PM |
Pune | 5:27 PM |
Bhagalpur | 4:54 PM |
Darbhanga | 4:56 PM |
Bengaluru | 5:50 PM |
Bhopal | 5:35 PM |
Raipur | 5:29 PM |
Chennai | 5:39 PM |
Kolkata | 5:00 PM |
Chandigarh | 5:25 PM |
Kanpur? | 5:28 PM |
Prayagraj | 5:15 PM |
Hyderabad | 5:40 PM |
Kolkata | 5:00 PM |
Chaiti Chhath Puja is a four-day Hindu festival that is celebrated in the month of Chaitra, which usually falls in March or April. The festival is dedicated to the Sun God, and is celebrated mainly in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal.
The four days of Chaiti Chhath Puja are as follows:
Nahay Khay: The first day is called Nahay Khay, when devotees take a bath in the river or pond and then eat a simple meal.
Kharna: The second day is called Kharna, when devotees fast for the entire day and then feast on a special meal.
Arghya: The third day is called Arghya, when devotees offer prayers to the Sun God at sunrise and sunset.
Usha Arghya: The fourth and final day is called Usha Arghya, when devotees offer prayers to the Sun God at sunrise.
The rituals of Chaiti Chhath Puja vary from region to region, but some common rituals include:
Taking a bath in the Holy river: This is a symbolic cleansing of the body and mind.
Fasting: Devotees fast for the entire day on Kharna and Usha Arghya.
Offering prayers to the Sun God: This is the most important ritual of the festival.
Making offerings to the Sun God: Devotees offer prayers, flowers, fruits, and sweets to the Sun God.
Seeing the Sun God: Devotees break their fast after seeing the Sun God at sunrise.
Chaiti Chhath Puja is a festival of thanksgiving and devotion. Devotees thank the Sun God for providing them with life, health, and prosperity. The festival is also a time for families to come together and celebrate.
Some of the common customs and traditions of Chaiti Chhath Puja include:
Wearing new clothes: Devotees typically wear new clothes for the festival.
Applying mehndi: Mehndi is a traditional art form that is applied to the hands and feet of women during the festival.
Wearing jewelry: Devotees typically wear jewelry, such as gold chains and earrings, during the festival.
Lighting diyas: Devotees light diyas, or lamps, to illuminate the path of the Sun God.
Here are some of the rituals performed during Chhath Puja:
For their sons' welfare and the happiness of their families, married women observe fasting during the Chatt Puja holiday. With great zeal and enjoyment, this event is mostly observed in the state of Bihar and neighbouring Nepal.
The first day of Chhath, which is when the festival begins, is referred to as Nahay Khay. The devotees fast on this day and take only one meal, in addition to taking a sacred bath in the river Ganga.
Kharna is the name of the festival's second day. On this day, from sunrise to sunset, women keep a complete fast without drinking any water. Just after sunset in the evening, the fast is broken, and food is prepared and offered to the sun. The third day of fasting starts right after the second day's prasad.
On the third day, a waterless daylong fast is observed. The third day, also known as Sanjhiya Ghat, is the primary Chhat Puja day. The essence of this day is making an Arghya offering to the setting sun. The third day's fasting lasts all night long. After daybreak the following morning, the Parna starts.
People offer Usha Argya, also known as Arghya, to the rising sun on the fourth or last day of Chhath. The 36-hour fast is completed after Arghya.
Chhath Puja, the festival for worshipping Surya, the Sun God and his sister Usha (Chhathi Maiya) is going to be celebrated by crores of devotees. Chhat Puja is celebrated with great grandeur all over the world by the Bihari community people. This year, Chhath Puja has already started with (Chaturthi Tithi) on November 17, 2023, with Nahaye Khaye and it will culminate with (Saptami Tithi) Usha Arghya on November 20, 2023. Women observe strict fast these days. Chhat Puja is observed on Shashti Tithi (30th October) of Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik.
It is believed that the Shashthi Devi is the Manas Daughter of Lord Brahma. In the Puranas, she is also said to be the mother Katyayani, who is worshipped on Navratri on the Shashti date. Shashthi Devi is said to be Chhath Maiya in the local language of Bihar-Jharkhand.
Even though Chhath Puja is celebrated all over India with great fervor, this festival is mainly celebrated in the state of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Mumbai and Goa, Chhath festival is celebrated with full devotion and dedication.
Chhath Puja is a very colourful and festive occasion. Women dress in their best clothes and decorate their homes with flowers and lights. They also sing songs and dance to celebrate the festival. Chhath Puja is a time for women to come together and celebrate their faith, their families, and their culture.
(Note: Dates/timings may be subject to change; details mentioned here are as per the information available.)
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