Chhath Puja 2024: Chhath Mahaparva is the biggest festival of Sun worship. Astrologer Dr. Anish Vyas, Director of Pal Balaji Astrology Institute, Jaipur-Jodhpur, said that the great festival of folk faith, Chhath, is starting with Nahay Khay. In this, Lord Bhaskar is worshiped along with the worship of Chhath Maiya. Women observe a strict fast for 36 hours for the health, success and longevity of their children.
Here also the people of Purvanchal celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm. This festival will run from November 5 to 8. Chhath Puja includes bathing while standing in water, fasting, and offering Arghya to the Sun. Due to being the sixth part of nature, this goddess was named Shashthi Devi. This goddess protects and provides longevity to children. In Skanda Purana she has been called Goddess Katyayani. Shashthi Tithi is the goddess of protection and promotion of children.
Chhath Vrati will offer Arghya to the setting sun on 7th November. On this day, on Shashthi Tithi, Chhathi Maiya will be worshiped with rituals. There will be a combination of Dhriti and Raviyoga on 7th November. The devotees will stand in the water with purity and offer fruits, sweets, coconut, betel-nut, flowers and Aripan to Lord Sun and pray for the well-being of the family. On Friday, November 8, on Kartik Shukla Saptami Tithi, those fasting in Sarvartha Siddhi Yoga and Ravi Yoga will conclude the four-day festival by offering Arghya to the rising sun.
Chhath, the great festival of folk faith, is celebrated every year. The festival of Chhath is considered a great festival of faith. Chhathi Maiya is worshiped on the sixth day of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. It is believed that the devotees who perform Chhath Puja attain happiness, prosperity, wealth, glory, fame and respect. It is said that the children of women who observe this fast attain longevity and happiness and prosperity. Along with this, observing this fast also gives the blessings of a healthy life. Chhath festival is one of the difficult festivals of India which lasts for 4 days. In this festival, Sun God and Chhathi Maiya are worshiped by observing waterless fast for 36 hours and Arghya is offered to them. This fast is also observed for fulfillment of wishes. Along with women, men also observe this fast. Nahay-Khay is performed on the Chaturthi date of Kartik month, after which Kharna is offered on the second day and Arghya is offered to the setting sun on the third day. On the fourth day, the fast is broken after offering Arghya to the rising sun.
Chhath Puja begins with Nahay Khay.
Astrologer Dr. Anish Vyas told that the first tradition of Chhath Mahaparva is performed on the Chaturthi date of Kartik Shukla Paksha. Chaturthi of Kartik Shukla Paksha is celebrated by bathing and eating. According to this tradition, first of all the house is cleaned and purified. After this, Chhathavrati starts the fast by taking bath and eating pure vegetarian food. All other members of the house take food only after the fasting members have finished eating. According to the rules, on this day rice, gourd vegetable and pulses are consumed and only rock salt is used in food. Women and men fasting on this day purify their minds by eating one meal. From this day onwards, great care is taken about cleanliness in the house, and cooking with garlic and onion is prohibited.
November 6, 2024- Kharna- Keep fast for the whole day on the second day.
Astrologer Dr. Anish Vyas told that the second day of Chhath Puja is known as “Kharna”. On this day the devotees keep fast for the whole day. Kharna means purification. In the evening on the day of Kharna, fasting women break their day long fast by making prasad of jaggery kheer and after performing puja. Then this Prasad is distributed among everyone. After consuming this Prasad, the 36-hour waterless fast of the devotees begins. It is considered auspicious to use new earthen stove and mango wood for making Prasad on this day.
November 7, 2024- Worship the Sun in the evening Arghya.
On the third day in the evening, Arghya is offered to the setting Sun God, due to which it is called “Sandhya Ardhya”. On this day, fasting women drink sugar candy and water kept at night before sunrise. After that, water has to be drunk only after offering the last Arghya the next day. On the day of Evening Arghya, a special type of dish “Thekuva” and seasonal fruits are offered to the Sun God, and he is offered Arghya with milk and water.
November 8, 2024- Chhath Puja ends with the offering of the rising sun.
On the fourth day, the last Arghya is offered to the rising Sun. The fasting women and men pray to Chhathi Maiya and Surya Dev for the happiness, peace and blessings of their children and the entire family. After this, the fasting person worships the Gods and Goddesses of the house, and then ends the fast by eating the Prasad.
mythology
Prophet and horoscope analyst Dr. Anish Vyas told that Chhathi Mata is worshiped on Chhath festival, which is also mentioned in Brahmavaivarta Purana. According to a story, King Priyavrat, son of the first Manu Swayambhuva, had no children. Because of this he remained sad. Maharishi Kashyap asked the king to perform a yajna to get a son. As per the orders of Maharishi, the king performed the yagya. After this, Queen Malini gave birth to a son but unfortunately the child was born dead. The king and other family members were very sad about this. Then a plane descended from the sky in which Mata Shashthi was seated. When the king prayed to her, she introduced herself and said – I am Shashthi Devi, the mental daughter of Brahma. I protect all the children of the world and give the blessing of having children to the childless.” After this, the goddess blessed the dead child and placed her hand on it, due to which he came alive. The king was very happy with this grace of the goddess and he worshiped Shashthi Devi. It is believed that only after this, this puja gradually spread everywhere.
Religious and cultural significance
Prophet and horoscope analyst Dr. Anish Vyas told that Chhath Puja is a folk festival of religious and cultural faith. This is the only festival in which the Sun God is worshiped and offered Arghya. Sun worship has special importance in Hindu religion. He is the only God who can be seen directly. In the Vedas, Sun God is called the soul of the world. Sunlight has the ability to destroy many diseases. Due to the auspicious influence of Sun, a person gets health, brightness and self-confidence. In Vedic astrology, Sun has been said to be the factor of soul, father, ancestors, respect and higher government service. By worshiping Sun God and Chhathi Mata on Chhath Puja, a person gets children, happiness and desired results. Culturally, the biggest feature of Chhath festival is its simplicity, purity and love for nature.
astronomical and astrological significance
Chhath festival has great importance from scientific and astrological point of view also. Shashthi Tithi of Kartik Shukla Paksha is a special astronomical occasion, when the Sun is situated in the southern hemisphere of the Earth. During this time, the sun’s ultraviolet rays accumulate on Earth in larger quantities than normal. These harmful rays have a direct effect on people’s eyes, stomach and skin. By worshiping and offering Arghya to Sun God on Chhath festival, ultraviolet rays do not harm humans, hence the importance of Sun worship increases.
