Chhath Puja Katha

• Deities: Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya • When: Kartik Shukla Chaturthi to Saptami (four days), main day Shashthi • Fast: Nirjala, about 36 hours (the main vrat) • Special: Arghya to the setting and the rising sun • Main lesson: Discipline, purity and gratitude toward nature

Chhath is the main festival of Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and the Terai region of Nepal. In it Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya are worshipped on the bank of a river or pond. In this vrat special attention is given to the strictness of the rules and to purity. No priest is considered necessary; the vrati performs the puja herself or himself.

• From Kartik Shukla Chaturthi (Nahay-Khay) to Saptami (Usha Arghya). • First day: Nahay-Khay. Second day: Kharna. Third day: Sandhya Arghya. Fourth day: Usha Arghya and parana. • Check the dates according to the Panchang and the local ghat arrangements.

• A bamboo soop and daura (basket) • Thekua, rice laddus, seasonal fruits (banana, coconut, sugarcane, water chestnut, lemon) • A clay lamp, incense, roli, akshat • A lota for milk-and-water arghya • Clean cloth and new clothes

1. Nahay-Khay: Bathe and eat pure food (such as kaddu-bhaat). 2. Kharna: Stay without food through the day and in the evening take the prasad of jaggery kheer and roti, then begin the nirjala vrat. 3. Sandhya Arghya: Standing in the water, offer arghya to the setting sun with the fruit-prasad in the soop. 4. At night sing songs of Chhathi Maiya and keep a vigil. 5. Usha Arghya: Offer arghya to the rising sun. 6. Parana: Break the fast by taking the prasad and distribute it to everyone.

• Take full care of purity and cleanliness. • Follow discipline and safety at the ghat. • Distribute the prasad among everyone. • Be careful in deep water.

• Stay away from garlic-onion and tamasic food. • Do not make the prasad impure or touch it with leftovers. • Do not dirty the ghat with noise and rubbish.

It is believed that the Chhath vrat is kept for the joy of children, good health and the prosperity of the family. It is regarded as an extremely strict austerity.

• Mantra: "Om Ghrini Suryaya Namah", "Om Suryaya Namah" • Folk songs of Chhathi Maiya: according to regional tradition • Surya Dev aarti: https://divyavani.app/aarti

Q: When is Chhath Puja held? A: Six days after Deepavali, the main arghya is on Kartik Shukla Shashthi. The whole festival lasts four days. Q: What is Kharna? A: The second day of Chhath, on which the vrati stays without food through the day and in the evening takes the prasad of jaggery kheer and roti. After this the nirjala vrat begins. Q: Who is Chhathi Maiya? A: In folk tradition she is the goddess who protects children and is also regarded as Surya Dev's sister. In some Puranas she is called Goddess Shashthi. Q: What precautions should be taken during Chhath? A: Watch your health during the nirjala fast; the elderly and the sick should take a doctor's advice. Avoid going into deep water in rivers and ponds and be careful in crowds. Q: Can anyone keep Chhath? A: By tradition both women and men keep the vrat. Following the rules and purity is considered necessary.

A nirjala fast is hard. If you have a health problem, take a doctor's advice. This katha is a retelling of a traditional story. The method and the katha differ by region.