2023 Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja 2023 Date Calendar in India

At the Chhath Puja, the Sun God, Surya, who represents vigor and life power, is worshipped to encourage well-being, prosperity, and advancement. Surya Shashti, Chhath, Chhathi, Chhath Parv, Dala Puja, and Dala Chhath are all names for Chhath Puja.

Chhath Puja Twice a Year

Throughout the four-day celebration, the Sun God, the source of all powers, is honored. Sun God followers observe the Vrati fast. Chhath Puja is celebrated twice a year, in the summer and in the winter.

Shukla, Kartika Karthik Chhath is observed on Shashti, the sixth day of the Karthika month. According to the Hindu calendar, this event takes place every year in either October or November. Another is Chaiti Chhath, a summer festival that takes place a few days following Holi.

According to mythology, the ceremonies for Chhath Puja are more severe than those for other Hindu celebrations. They require prolonged fasting, swimming in rivers or other bodies of water, praying while standing in the water, spending a lot of time facing the sun, and offering “prasad” to the sun at sunrise and dusk. During the event, no food with salt, onions, or garlic will be prepared.

Chhath Puja Celebration

It happens over a period of four days. On the first day of Nahay Khay, people do a ritual bath and fast. Women can only eat one meal a day when they fast. Home cooking is required. Lohanda and Kharna have to go without eating all day on the second day. The fast is broken with prasad at dusk. Often, kheer and chapati are used as Prasad. Then you have to go 36 hours without water. When the sun goes down on the third day, prasad is made at home and given to the river. The sarees that the women wear to this event are colored with turmeric.

People make offerings to the rising sun along the riverbank on Usha Arghya, the last day of the festival. The festival is over when the people break their fast after 36 hours. Every person in the house is given Prasad. A very important part of this ceremony is the Prasad. It is made with rice, fresh fruits, dried fruits, wheat, jaggery, almonds, coconuts, and ghee. Thekua is a biscuit made with wheat flour that many people like.

Chhath Puja Festival

Now that you know what Chhath Puja is and how it is done, let’s look at its history.

Hindu tradition says that Draupadi and the Pandavas did the Chhath Puja to get back their kingdom and find answers to their problems. It is said that Karna, who was the son of Lord Surya and Kunti, loved doing the Chhath Puja.

It is said that ancient Vedic yogis would expose themselves to direct sunlight to get the sun’s blessing and do the Chhath puja.

Therefore in 2023, Chhath Puja is celebrated on Sunday, 19 November, and ends on Wednesday, 22 November.