If you think October is too festive for the best, wait till November comes. After Diwali, the joyous celebrations will continue with the advent of Chhath Puja 2024, a sacred four-day Hindu festival that holds immense significance in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal.Hindu devotees are eagerly preparing for this annual event, celebrating it with grandeur and devotion. Known as Surya Shashthi, Chhath, Chhathi, Chhath Parv, Daala Puja, Pratihar, and Dala Chhath, the festival honors the Sun God, revered as the source of energy and vitality.
Chhath Puja is unique in that it is one of the few festivals in which devotees worship the setting and rising Sun, and pray for well-being, prosperity and happiness. This ancient festival involves traditions such as fasting, bathing in holy rivers, and offering arghya (a ritual) to the Sun and Chhathi Maiya. The festival holds special significance for women, especially in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, where they gather on the banks of rivers or water bodies at dawn to observe a strict fast and offer their prayers. Through these rituals, they seek blessings of the Sun and Chhathi Maiya for the prosperity, health and progress of their family and children.
Chhath Puja 2024: Dates and Rituals
For those who don’t know, Chhath Puja is celebrated six days after Diwali, on the sixth day of the Hindu month of Kartik. Chhath Puja preparations usually begin a day after Diwali, with devotees following a strict sattvic diet (food without onion or garlic) prepared with great care and hygiene. Food is consumed only after a bath, which symbolizes purity and devotion. This year Chhath Puja falls on November 7, 2024, with several important rituals being performed every day.
- Day 1 (Nahay Khay) – November 5, 2024 (Tuesday): The festival begins with Nahay Khay, a day of purification where devotees bathe in rivers or water bodies and start their fast by consuming only Satvik food.
- Sunrise: 6:36 AM
- Sunset: 5:33 PM
- Day 2 (Lohanda and Kharna) – November 6, 2024 (Wednesday): On the second day, devotees observe Kharna, where they fast from sunrise to sunset without consuming water. In the evening, they break their fast by offering homemade prasad (sacred food) to Surya and sharing it with family.
- Sunrise: 6:37 AM
- Sunset: 5:32 PM
- Day 3 (Chhath Puja, Sandhya Arghya) – November 7, 2024 (Thursday): This is the main day of Chhath Puja, when devotees gather to offer Sandhya Arghya, a ritual where they pay homage to the setting sun. Women dress in traditional attire and perform the rituals standing knee-deep in water, praying for their families’ prosperity.
- Sunrise: 6:38 AM
- Sunset: 5:32 PM
- Day 4 (Usha Arghya, Parana) – November 8, 2024 (Friday): The final day of Chhath Puja, known as Usha Arghya, is dedicated to offering prayers to the rising sun. Devotees break their fast (Parana) after this ritual, concluding the festival on a note of devotion and celebration.
- Sunrise: 6:38 AM
- Sunset: 5:31 PM
Significance and Traditions of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja is not just a festival but a spiritual practice that emphasizes purity, devotion and discipline. The rituals performed during the festival highlight the importance of water, sunlight and nature in sustaining life. Offering arghya to the Sun God brings health, prosperity, and happiness to families. It is one of the few Hindu festivals that worships the setting sun, symbolizing the cycle of life, death, and the renewal that comes with each new morning.
The festival is especially significant for women, who lead the celebrations by observing a strict fast and performing rituals with devotion. Many people believe that Chhath Puja brings special blessings for the health and longevity of their children. Devotees also seek protection and blessings from Chhathi Maiya, a goddess associated with fertility and family well-being.
As Chhath Puja in November 2024 approaches, preparations will begin in homes and temples across North India and Nepal. The festival, with its deep rituals and spiritual essence, is a reminder of the interconnectedness of nature and humanity, as well as the enduring power of devotion.
Get ready to witness the beauty of this four-day festival, as devotees come together to honor the Sun God, seek his blessings, and celebrate life in its purest form.
