chhath puja celebration

On Kharna, devotees observe Vrat for a time period of almost 8 to 12 hours.This fast, also includes abstaining from drinking water.Thus, the day of Kharna involves an anhydrous fast.People terminate the fasts during evening after performing Surya Puja.With the end of Surya Puja, Prasad (sacred food offering) is distributed among everyone.

Sandhya Arghya means evening offerings.On the third day of Chhath puja, people spend themselves in preparing food offerings.The prepared food is offered to the setting Sun.The setting Sun is worshiped on Sandhya Argha.It is considered to be an auspicious to invoke the blessings of Surya in dusk.The third day with the Sun setting down.

This is the last day of Chhath Puja.On the day of Suryodaya Argha, devotees reach to the banks of the rivers to offer to the rising Sun.Once the morning offering is over, people terminate their fasts by tasting ginger with sugar.The festival of Chhath Puja ends with the Suryodaya Argha, on the fourth day.The four days performed in severe austerities are believed to please Lord Surya.This was all about how Chhath Puja is celebrated for the period of four days.Now, let take a look at the food items that can be taken during Chhath Puja in 2014.

Chhath Puja is dedicated to Lord Surya.Lord Surya is worshipped during four days of Chhath Puja.Chhath Puja fasting is mainly observed by women folks for the well being of sons and the happiness of the family.Chhath Puja is mainly observed in the Indian state of Bihar and adjoining Nepal.The worshipping of Sun God spans for four days.The first day of Chhath is known as Nahay Khay.The holy dip in water body, especially in river Ganga, is taken on this day.Women folks who observe Chhath take only single meal on this day.The second day of Chhath is known as Kharna.On this day fasting without water is observed from the sunrise to the sunset.The fast is broken just after sunset after making food offering the Sun God.The third day fasting begins after having Prasad on the second day.A full day fast without water is observed on the third main day of Chhath Puja.Offering Arghya to the setting Sun is the main ritual of the day.It is the only time of the year when Arghya is given to the setting Sun.The third day fasting continues throughout the night.Parana is done on the next day after sunrise.On the fourth and final day of Chhath, Arghya is given to the rising Sun and it is known as Usha Arghya.The 36 hours long fast is broken after given Arghya to the Sun.The Chhath Puja is also known as Pratihar, Dala Chhath, Chhathi and Surya Shashthi.

Every year, Chhath Parva is celebrated in the honor of Lord Sun, the ultimate source of energy and life.It is a way to thank the Sun for his divine energies, that help in sustaining life on earth.That is why, Chhath Puja is also known as Surya Shashti.Sun is the only Lord, who is directly visible to us.Lord Sun arrives daily to spread light, positivity, and life on earth.The rising and setting of Sun, both play a very important role in maintaining the cycle of life.Apart from providing the necessary energy for our survival, solar energy is also very beneficial for our health.It improves the activity of white blood cells.Sun is the only and great source of Vitamin D, which helps in strengthening of bones.Performing the Surya Puja or Puja for Sun, greatly reduces the feelings of anger, ego, jealousy, and other negative feelings.The hymns and benefits of worshiping Lord Sun are also described in Rigveda.Recite those hymns of Rig Veda and perform Puja with full dedication to attain the maximum benefits during Chhath Puja in 2014.

Draupadi, the wife of Pandavas was a great devotee of Lord Sun.She used to worship Sun with utmost faith and devotion.Because of this reason, she was also blessed with the divine powers of Sun that could treat the diseases like leprosy and skin problems.Draupadi started the tradition of Chhath Puja to honor Lord Sun.Warrior Karna, the son of Lord Sun also used to perform Chhat Puja for honoring the powers of his father, Surya.Then, all the followers of Karna started performing Surya Puja for honoring Sun.This legend is also related to the time of Mahabharta.Remember these legends, while celebrating Chhath Puja in 2014.Now we are sure, you wanted to know about the four auspicious days of Surya Puja that you will celebrate in 2014.

According to a belief, after the main Puja on the final day, if you beg for the Prasad all your wishes will come true. Did you know.Chhath is the only festival which celebrates the setting sun unlike any other festival.The setting sun is celebrated for its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death.

A long year ago, there was a king named, Priyabrat and his wife Malini.They were living very happily but there was a big unhappiness in their life as they have no child.They decided to make a big Yagya by the help of Maharishi Kashyap in order to be blessed with a child.His wife became pregnant because of the effect of Yagya.But she had given birth to a dead child after nine month.King was very sad and decided to suicide.Suddenly, there came a Goddess in front of him while suicide.Goddess said that, I am a Goddess Khashti, if someone would offer puja to me with pure mind and soul, he would definately get a child.The king, priyabrat did the same and blessed with a very beautiful and cute child.Since then, people started celebrating the chhath puja.

Chhath Puja is a festival of rituals and celebrations.This ritual is religiously carried on every year in the northern states of India since times immemorial.Chhath Puja is a demonstration of gratitude towards the Sun God, considered God of Energy and of the life force.It is a festival of penance and prayers.The festival is special because prayers are offered to the setting sun and the rising sun, which is symbolic of death and rebirth.Not only Sun God is expected to bestow the worshippers with prosperity, progress and well being, it is also said to cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends and elders.During these days, celebrations take place in almost all the metros of India with similar spirits.In Patna, the festival is celebrated on the banks of pious River Ganges, while in Delhi the festival takes place on the banks of River Yamuna.People propose offerings to the solar deity with open arms.The atmosphere becomes enchanting with the lines of earthen lamps floating on the evening waters of the rivers.Unlike the other festivals that require priest to sanctify the ceremony, Chhath Puja is a personal celebration and does not require a priest.However, given the fact, it should not be thought that following the rituals of Chhath is easy.In fact, the rituals which are followed are quite tough and need innate courage and will power.The four days of Chhath are celebrated with non violence, forgiveness and compassion.

Chhath Puja falls on the sixth day of the Kartik month of Hindu lunar calendar and somewhere in the month of October or November according to the Christian calendar.The words Chhath means the number six of the Indian numeric system, as festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the Kartik month.The Chhath Puja has roots deep rooted in the Hindu mythology and there are different legends too which speak about such festivals.Rigveda the first Veda contains hymns which can be sung for worshipping the Sun God and it also describes some rituals which are similar to the Chhath rituals.The epic Mahabharata contains depictions of princess Draupadi observing similar rites on advice of the sage Dhaumya to regain the lost kingdom.A legend also states that Karna was the one who started the ritual of Chhath for pleasing his father the Sun God.In the ancient times, the rishis used to conduct the ritual of Chhath to gain energy directly from the sun and not from any other available source.