The wait for Chhath Puja 2019 is finally over and you wanna know Chhath Puja 2019 Dates, Nahay Khay Dates, Kharna Timings to start early preparations. As you all know it’s the time of the year when people from all over India gather and thank Lord Surya for the well-being of their families.
Chhath Puja popularly known as Dala Chhath, Chhathi, Surya Shashthi, and Pratihar is celebrated among the people residing in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, is the only Vedic festival which is dedicated to Lord Sun and Chhathi Maiya. (known as Goddess Usha).
While Chhath Puja does not involve any form of idol worship, the festival is celebrated by Indian as well as Nepalese people. Well, the most interesting fact is that Chhath is widely popular all over the world and is celebrated in countries such as Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Suriname, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica,
To those who don’t know, the meaning of the word Chhath is six in Hindi. Further, it is celebrated on the 6th day of the month of Karthika.
Why we celebrate Chhath Puja?
Chhath Puja is one of the biggest festivals of Northern India, which is worshipped in order to promote well being, happiness and the prosperity of humans. With this festival, people decide to thank the Sun God for a period of 4 days.
The whole process involves holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water. Moreover, it also includes offering prasad as well as arghya to the setting and rising sun. While there are some devotees who perform a prostration march as they head for the river banks.
Meanwhile, the devotees and women who observe the fast during the festive season are known as Vrati. Well, women observe fast just for the well-being of their kids and family.
The history of Chhath Puja goes back during the times of Mahabharata and it is said that the puja was first started by Surya Putra Karna who ruled over the Anga Desh. Further, the Puja was also celebrated by Draupadi and the Pandavas of Hastinapur to solve their issues and to get back their lost kingdom.
Well, the most significant feature about Chhath Puja is the unique idea behind it, which is above the concept of Murti Pujan. Meanwhile, many people believe that the Sun is important for the life of every creature on the planet. Well, Chhath Puja is a way to pay tribute to it irrespective of caste, creed, and gender.
Further, it is believed that in the ancient times, rishis used this method to obtain energy directly from the rays of the Sun. Moreover, the other history behind celebrating the Chhath puja is related to Lord Rama. It is believed that Lord Rama and Sita had kept fast to offer puja to the Lord Sun in the month of Kartika in Shukla Paksh after coming back to the Ayodhya after 14 years of exile.
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When and how Chhath Puja 2019 will be celebrated?
As we already said that the worshipping of Chhath Puja, usually spans for 4 days, standing in water for long periods of time,
1. Nahay Khay
Well, the first day of Chhath is known as Nahay Khay. Meanwhile, the sacred dip in River Ganga is taken on this day. Also, women who observe Chhath take only a single meal on this day.
- 31st October 2019 (Thursday) Chaturthi
2. Lohanda and Kharna
The second day of Chhath is done in the form of Kharana. On this day from sunrise to sunset, fasting is kept without water. Fasting ends while offering the meal to the Sun God after the sunset. Meanwhile, fasting begins on the third day after the second day of fasting.
- 1 November 2019 (Friday), Panchami
3. Chhath Pooja, Sandhya Arghya
On the third and the main day of Chhath Puja, a full day fast is observed without water. While the sun establishes the beginning of the main ritual of the day. On the third day, fasting is observed during the whole night. After sunrise, on the next day puja is celebrated.
- 2nd November (Saturday), Shashti
4. Usha Arghya, Parana Day
On the fourth and final day of Chhath, Arghya is offered to the rising sun and this is known as Usha Arghya. Intrestingly, after the Arghya is given to the sun, fasting which is observed for 36 hours is finally over.
- 3rd November 2019 (Sunday), Saptami
Don’t forget to watch this popular “Chhath Puja” video shared by Bihar tourism
So, how you are going to celebrate your Chhath Puja 2019? Please share your views with us in the comments section below!
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