CHHATH FESTIVAL

The word "Chhath", stands six in Hindi & the festival is celebrated on the 6th day of the month of Kartika of the Hindi lunar calendar.

The rituals of the festival are rigorous and are observed over a period of four days. They include Holy Bath, Fasting and abstaining from drinking water , standing in water for long periods of time and offering prashad and arghya to the setting and rising the sun.

During this period, Worshipper observes purity and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket. This is the only holy festival which has no involvement of priest. The devotees offer their to the setting sun, and then the rising sun in celebrating its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death.

First day called Nahay Khay, In this day devotees take a dip, prefer in the holy river like Ganga & carry home the holy water to prepare the offerings. Make neat & clean environment around houses. Ladies observing the Vrata, in this take only one meal on this day.

Second day called called Kharna, In this day, Observes a fast for the whole day, which ends in the evening a little after sunset. After worship of Sun and moon, the offerings of Kheer, puris and bananas, are distributed among family and friends. The Vratins go on a fast without water for 36 hours after 2nd day evening prashad.

At the 3rd day evening offerings called Sandhya Arghya. On the eve of this day, the entire family members accompanies the Vratins to a riverbank, pond to make the offerings to the setting sun. The folk songs sung on the evening of Chhath.

Final day called Usha Arghya (Morning Offerings),the devotees along with family and friends go to the riverbank before sunrise, in order to make the offerings to the rising sun. Festival ends with the breaking of the fast by the Vartins.

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