Chhath puja falls in ‘Kartika’ either
the month of October or November. Every year it’s celebrated with lots of
enthusiasm. This is the only festival when the both forms of sun is worshiped
i.e. ‘Sunset’ & ‘Sunrise’.
This is the festival which doesn’t
discriminate between male & female; married & widow. It is a four day celebration which starts with
‘Nahay Khay’, wherein the person doing it can have one meal in the day,
followed by Kharna, when the Vratins (lady performing the puja) fasts
for the whole day; Gur Ka kheer (jaggery rice delicacy), fruits served among
the family and friends after the Vratins has worshiped the sun setting &
moon rising. After the second days ceremony Vratins goes on a nirjal fast for
36 hours.
Third day: Sandhya Arghya (Pahela
Aragh)
Vratins worship the
setting sun (Pratyusha – the last sun ray of the day) by offering milk / water
to setting sun and fruits, thekua put in a bamboo basket.
Fourth day: Usha Arghya (Dusra Aragh)
Vratins worship the rising
sun (Usha – the first ray of sun) by offering milk / water to setting sun and fruits,
thekua put in a bamboo basket.
Pen Whizz
Pen Whizz