After the colorful celebrations of Diwali, devotees across Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and parts of nepal begin preparing for Chhath Puja 2025, a festival dedicated to the sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya. This year, the festival will be observed from October 25 to october 28. Chhath Puja is unique in its emphasis on purity, devotion, and environmental harmony.
🗓️ When Does Chhath Puja Begin?
· Nahay Khay (October 25): Devotees take a holy bath and eat only satvik food.
· Kharna (October 26): A day-long fast is broken after sunset with offerings like kheer (rice pudding) and fruits.
· Sandhya Arghya (October 27): evening prayers are offered to the setting sun.
· Usha Arghya (October 28): Morning rituals mark the end of the festival with offerings to the rising sun.
🛒 Must-Have Chhath Puja Samagri (Ritual Materials)
Performing Chhath Puja requires specific items that hold spiritual significance:
· Thekua: A traditional sweet made of wheat flour, jaggery, and ghee.
· Fruits: Bananas, apples, pomegranates, and sugarcane for offerings.
· Coconuts: Whole and unbroken, symbolizing purity.
· Clay Lamps (Diyas): To illuminate rituals during the evening.
· Bamboo Baskets (Soop): Used to carry the offerings to the riverbank.
· Water, Milk, and Sugarcane Juice: Essential for Arghya (sun offerings).
🏞️ Ritual Preparations and Community Involvement
Chhath Puja is not just a personal devotion but also a community event:
· Ghats Setup: Temporary ghats are cleaned and decorated along rivers and canals.
· Safety Measures: Barricades, lighting, and security arrangements ensure smooth celebrations.
· Cultural Activities: local art forms like Madhubani paintings adorn the ghats, enhancing the festive spirit.
· Devotional Singing: Community bhajans and folk songs echo along the riverbanks.
🌞 Why Chhath Puja Is Special
· Spiritual Discipline: Devotees observe strict fasting and purification rituals.
· Environmental Respect: Offers prayers to natural elements like the sun and water bodies.
· Community Bonding: Strengthens ties among families and local communities.
Chhath Puja culminates with Usha Arghya, symbolizing gratitude, new beginnings, and the hope for health, prosperity, and well-being. By preparing thoroughly and performing rituals with devotion, devotees celebrate the festival with reverence and joy.
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