Chhath Mahaparva 2024 | Mahaparva of Chhathi Maiya

Chhath Puja is a festival dedicated to nature in which the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya are worshipped. This festival lasts for four days, starting on Chaturthi Tithi and ending on Saptami Tithi. On Chhath festival, the devotees enter the water up to their waist and offer arghya to the Sun God.

Chhath Mahaparva is a festival celebrated on Shashthi Tithi which is very difficult. This festival is a festival of discipline, restraint, and penance that lasts four days, but its preparation starts a week in advance. Let us tell you that, the Chhath festival is originally believed to have started from Bihar and Purvanchal.

But now it is being celebrated in different states of India and abroad as well and not only the people of Bihar and Purvanchal but also people living in other areas have become faithful to the Chhath festival and have started observing Chhath fast.

Chhath festival and the belief of Chhath Maiya

Chhath festival is mainly celebrated on Kartik Shukla Shashthi Tithi, but apart from this, the Chhath festival of Chaitra Shukla Shashthi Tithi, which is called Chaiti Chhath, is also quite popular. In this way, two Chhath fasts are especially important.

Both Chhath festivals are dedicated to Lord Sun and Shashthi Mata. Therefore, in the Chhath festival, Arghya is offered to Lord Sun, and Chhath Maiya's worship story is narrated.

Recognition of Chhath Puja

There is a story about Chhath Maiya that she is the daughter of Brahma and sister of Sun God. Chhath Maiya is described in the scriptures as a goddess who protects children and gives happiness to children, while Sun God is the god of food and prosperity.

Therefore, when the Rabi and Kharif crops are harvested, the festival of Chhath is celebrated in the months of Chaitra and Kartik to express gratitude to the Sun God.

The special importance of the four days of the Chhath festival

Chhath festival is mainly celebrated on Shashthi Tithi. But it starts with Nahai Khay i.e. on the first day of the Chhath festival, the devotees take a bath in the river and eat rice, pumpkin vegetables, and mustard greens once a day.

Kharna is performed on the second day in which the devotees make jaggery kheer in the evening and offer it to Chhath Maiya and the entire family eats this prasad. Chhath festival is celebrated on the third day in which arghya is offered to the setting sun and on the fourth day, on Saptami Tithi, the Chhath festival is concluded by offering arghya to the rising sun.

Chhath Puja dates (Chhath Puja 2024 Date)

• First day of Chhath Puja, November 5, 2024 – Nahai Khay (Tuesday)
  
• The second day of Chhath Puja, November 6, 2024 – Kharna (Wednesday)
• The third day of Chhath Puja, November 7, 2024 – Sandhya Arghya (Thursday)
• The fourth day of Chhath Puja, November 8, 2024 – Usha Arghya (Friday)

Nahai Khay (5 November 2024): Chhath Puja begins with Nahai-Khai. Nahai Khaai, as is clear from its name, is the custom to have food after taking a bath on this day. On the day of Nahai Khaai, women observe fast bathe in a river or pond. If it is not possible to take a bath in the river, then one can take a bath at home as well. After this, women who observe fast prepare rice, chana dal, and gourd as prasad and consume it.

Kharna (6 November 2024): The second day of Chhath Puja is called Lohanda or Kharna. Kharna Prasad is prepared on the Panchami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. On this day, mothers observe fast throughout the day and after the puja, they eat Kharna Prasad and start a 36-hour Nirjala fast. On this day, Prasad is prepared by lighting a fire with mango wood in an earthen stove.

Sandhya Arghya (7 November 2024): On the third day of Chhath Puja, Arghya is offered to the setting Sun God by standing in a river or pond in the evening. Along with this, fruits, sugarcane, rice laddus, thekua, and other items are placed in a bamboo basket and puja is done while standing in water.

Pratahkali Arghya (8 November 2024): On the fourth and last day of Chhath Puja, Arghya is offered to the rising Sun. On this day, the devotees break their fast. Also, pray for a long life and a good future for their children.

The glory of Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja is considered to be one of the most difficult fasts, as devotees have to follow strict rules during this time. This fast is observed for the happiness and prosperity of the family, the longevity of children, and a disease-free life. Worshiping the Sun during this festival gives us energy and power, which brings positivity to life.

Prasad of Chhath Puja

Thekua, Malpua, rice laddus, fruits, and coconut are used as prasad during Chhath Puja. All these prasads are made from pure ingredients and offered to the Sun God.