Chhath Puja 2024: A Complete Guide to Rituals, and Celebrations

Chhath Puja 2024: India is always engulfed in a deep spiritual energy as the Shukla Paksha of the Kartik month approaches on Chaturthi day. The festival of Chhath Puja, fundamental to the Sanatan Dharma, is about to begin. This event, which is mostly commemorated in Bihar with unparalleled enthusiasm, has spread throughout the country and is now observed nationwide.

Chhath is not just any festival; it’s a heartfelt tribute to the sun, where devotees honor both its rising and setting avatars. It is astounding how devoted the adherents are, especially the women. They fast for more than 24 hours during the Nirjala festival, asking for the health and longevity of their offspring.

Come explore the rich tapestry of rituals, importance, and celebrations surrounding Chhath Puja in 2024. This book is your lighthouse into the brilliant world of Chhath, regardless matter how deeply ingrained its customs are in you or if you’re just an interested observer.

What is Chhath Puja?

Chhath Puja is a four-day event with strong spiritual overtones that are ingrained in Hindu tradition. This holy festival is observed every year on the Shashthi of Shukla Paksha in the Kartik month, according to the Panchang.

The prayers for long life, health, and a bright future for one’s offspring are the core of Chhath Puja. Known as one of the hardest fasts, followers immerse themselves in a strict 36-hour fast while following strict rules. Amazingly, during this time, not a single drop of water touches their lips for more than twenty-four hours.

Although the primary fast is kept on Shashthi Tithi, the celebration officially begins on Chaturthi and ends on Saptami Tithi, with the sunrise offering of Arghya. So, in 2024, when does this spiritual trip start? Let’s investigate further.

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Chhath Puja 2024 Date:

Chhath Puja 2024 Day 1: Nahay Khay – November 5, 2024, Tuesday

Chhath Puja 2024 Day 2: Kharna – November 6, 2024, Wednesday

Chhath Puja 2024 Day 3: Sandhya Arghya – November 7, 2024, Thursday

Chhath Puja 2024 Day 4: Usha Arghya – November 8, 2024, Friday

Special Rituals for Chhath

The following rituals—also known as Surya Shashthi, Chhathi, Dala Chhath, and Prathihar—are performed during the four days of the Chhath Puja festival celebration.

• The first day of Chhath Puja 2024 is called Nahaye Khaye, which translates as “to bath and eat.” On this day, those who follow the fast take a sacred dip in a river, pond, or other body of water. In the afternoon, a vegetarian dinner is made and served as a bhog after the house and its surroundings are cleaned.
• On the second day, Kharna, the devotee observes the Nirjala fast. Consequently, no water is drunk, and later in the evening, a unique Prasad consisting of rice, milk, and jaggery is created. The Chhati Maiyya is then given this prasad, along with fruits, spices, betel leaves, and green ginger, and it is shared with friends and family.
• The third day is Chhath Puja Sandhya Arghya. Arghya is offered to Lord Sun on this day. To decorate a soop, use fruits, rice laddoos, and thekua. Then devotees and their family members would deliver the Arghya to the Sun God. During this rite, you should worship Chhathi Mata while wearing a soop and offer the Lord milk and water. At night, gather with others to sing devotional songs to Shashthi Devi and to hear the Chhath Vrat Katha.
• Usha Arghya, in which the Arghya is offered to the rising Sun, is done on the last and fourth days of the Chhath Puja 2024. The Vrattis visit the riverbanks on this day with their family, carrying out the ritual with great intensity and dedication. They offer prayers to Chhathi Maiyya and Lord Sun for joy, health, and wealth. Natives who are fasting break their fast by consuming jaggery and ginger.

The best day to perform a pooja for Lord Sun is also Chhath. It helps strengthen the Sun in your birth chart, enhancing its positive energy and protecting you from its detrimental consequences. To get Lord Surya’s heavenly blessings and bring luck into your life, perform a personalized Vedic puja. 

How Do People Celebrate Chhath Puja?

Chhath Puja is a four-day spiritual journey with distinct rituals and meanings; it is not only a celebration. The celebration officially begins on the Chaturthi of Shukla Paksha in the Kartik month with “Nahay-Khay.” On the second day of the festivities, believers observe “Kharna,” a day marked by unique traditions.

The primary Chhath fast is observed on Shashthi Tithi, which marks the festival’s climax. ‘Arghya’, a symbol of the cycle of life and destruction, is handed to the setting sun on this significant day. On Saptami, the festival comes to a close with the offering of “Arghya,” a symbol of rebirth and fresh starts, to the rising sun. It is only after this final devotion that the grandeur of the Chhath Puja 2024 reaches its fullness.