Chath Puja is an ancient Hindu tradition that is celebrated to praise the Lord Sun and his sister Chathi Maiya. The word Chath is combined of two words, ‘Cha’ stands for six stages and Hath means the science of severity. Hindus acquire solar energy in six different stages on Chath Puja which is celebrated with immense fervour in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Bihar.

When is Chath Puja actually celebrated?

As per the Gregorian Calendar, Chath Puja 2020 falls on 20th of November month. Chath Puja is a festival of four days and it begins on the sixth day of Hindu Month Karthik.

Chath Puja Significance

As per the legendary story, once the emperor of ancient North India insisted Maga Purohits to praise the Sun with him as they were extremely skilled in worshipping Lord Sun. It is also believed that Chath Puja was also performed during the Vedic period as chants for worshipping Lord Sun are found in Rigveda.

In Mahabharata, Draupadi offered a prayer to Lord Sun by performing Chath Puja which benefited Draupadi to solve the problems and she assisted Pandavas in capturing back their lost territory. It is also believed that the son of Lord Sun named Karna who was the emperor of Anga Desha also performed the rituals of Chath Puja to call his father Lord Sun.

What to do on Chath Puja

A highly significant festival celebrated over four days starts with Nahai Kahai which is the first day of starting the rituals. On this day devotees take a bath in the holy water of Ganga and observe the fast for a long day. Devotees prepare a dish known as Lauki Bhat in earthen vessels and they offer it to Lord Surya. Kharna is the second day of Chath Puja where devotees prepare jaggery Kher and Kaddu for a meal. They observe fast for a long day and worship Lord Surya in the evening. After worshipping they offer Rasiao Kheer, Puris, fruits to Lord Surya to plead him.

Sandhya Arghya is the third day of Chath Puja where devotees observe Nirjal Vrat on this day and they offer milk or water to the setting sun in the evening. On the fourth day of Chath Puja which is called Parana, devotees break their Nirjay Vrat by offering milk or water to Lord sun in the morning.

Benefits of Chath Puja

The sun is the greatest source of solar energy which is very essential to run the cycle of life. A person who shows gratitude to the Lord Surya by performing Chath Puja with absolute truthfulness and adherence will be blessed with the following benefits:

• Performing Chath Puja can diminish feelings like anger, jealousy, ego from one’s life.
• All the negativity will vanish from devotees’ life.
• A devotee’s mind and soul will be filled with enormous positivity.
• Absorbing the light of the sun improves the activity of white blood cells.
• With the sunlight entering your body, the bones get vitamin D which is very much essential for the growth and strength of bones.