Chhath Puja - Sun - PixelsForCharity

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Chhath Puja is a significant and vibrant festival primarily celebrated in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Nepal, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God (Surya) and his wife Usha. It usually falls six days after Diwali, in the month of Kartika (October-November). The festival is observed with great devotion and involves rigorous rituals, including fasting, bathing in rivers, offering prayers, and making offerings to the Sun at sunrise and sunset. The key part of the celebration is the ‘Arghya’, where devotees offer prayers and fruits to the Sun to seek blessings for the well-being and prosperity of their families.

Its unique rituals, especially the holy bath in rivers, which symbolizes purification of the body and soul. The most striking part of this festival is the ‘Kharna’—a 36-hour fasting period observed by women, during which they abstain from food and water. Another rare fact is that Chhath is one of the few Hindu festivals that has no involvement of idols; instead, devotees focus directly on the elements of nature—sun, water, and earth—for their offerings. The festival is a powerful reflection of gratitude towards nature and the life-giving energy of the Sun.