Chhath Puja is a festival to seek blessings of Surya to live a long and healthy life.
Chhath Puja 2018: The four-day long Chhath Puja festival started on November 13. In the midst of the folk songs, delicious sweets and exotic fruits, people rush to the ghats to celebrate. Chhath Puja is being celebrated four days after Diwali in the month of 'Kartik' according to Hindu calender.
The festival also known as Chhathi, Chhath Parv, Dala Chhath, Dala Puja and Surya Shashthi, is mainly popular in Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Chhath Puja is a festival to seek blessings of Surya to live a long and healthy life.
Story behind rituals: According to legends, Draupadi and the Pandavas had performed the Chhath Puja after they were advised by sage Dhaumya.
Another story behind the Chhath Puja celebrations is that after 14 years of exile when Lord Ram, Sita and Laxman returned to Aayodhya, Sita observed a fast. Sita observed the fast and offered prayers to Sun God in the Kartik month in Shukla Paksha. And hence the day was since then marked as the Hindu Vedic festival.
Chhath Puja days and celebrations (Fasting rituals)
Nahay Khay: This is the first day of Chhath Puja celebrations and the devotees take morning sacred dip into the holy waters, mainly, in the Ganga, Kosi river and Karnali. They carry the holy water to their home to prepare offerings (prasad) for the Sun God.
Lohanda: This is the second day of celebrations where devotees fast till the sunset. They prepare their 'prasad' consisting of kheer, bananas and rice. After consuming the offering, they again start their next cycle of fast for another 36 hours without water.
Sandhya Arghya (evening offerings): On the third day, after preparing prasad, people take holy bath in the water bodies at the time of dusk and worship Sun God and Chhathi Mata. Folk songs are also played and sung to celebrate this day.
Usha Arghya (morning offerings): This is the last day of Chhath Puja celebrations where the devotees gather around the holy waters and break their fast after offer 'prasad' (Ursha arghya) to the Sun. A special sweet called 'Thekua’ is prepared during this festival and is offered as the prasad
Chhath Puja 2018 Wishes and WhatsApp messages
Chhath Puja is a day to thank the Sun For prosperity, peace and kindness to everyone. Happy Chhath.
May the occasion of Chhath Puja light up new hopes and opportunities in your life and fulfil all your dreams and leave you with smile.
All that exists was born from the sun. He is the source and the end. May Sun God bless you this Chhat Puja. Heart full of wishes, here I send.
Long live the tradition of Chhath Puja, may nature bless you with love and care. Sending special wishes your way. Missing you so much, wish you were here.
May the auspicious occasion of Chhath Puja bring in your life prosperity and happiness.
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 "Chhath Puja Date 2018: Puja timings, Significance and Whatsapp messages for your loved ones")
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