Chhath Puja 2018: Here is how lakhs of devotees offer 'Arghya' conclude the Chhath festivities by offering prayers to sun
The four-day long Chhath Puja celebrations concluded on Monday after lakhs of people across India and the world paid oblation to the rising sun. The festival, which is celebrated across various states primarily in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, began on Sunday and concluded today after devotees offered 'arhgya' to the rising Sun and ended their 36-hour long fast.
The Chhath Puja is celebrated on the sixth day of the Kartik month of the Hindu calendar which also happens to be the fourth day after Diwali. As per the Hindu tradition, devotees worship the Sun God and his wife Usha to express gratitude and seek their blessings.
According to Hindu mythology, Draupadi, the common wife of the Pandavas, was unhappy and troubled. In order to get rid of suffering, she was advised to pray Sun God and observe Chhath Puja. She observed the fast and got rid of her sufferings. Another story about the festival revolves around Lord Ram and Goddess Sita. It is believed that the Goddess observed this fast after she returned home after spending 14 years in exile. From that particular day, devotees started celebrating the festival.
Day one of the festival is called Nahai Khai, which begins with devotees taking the holy dip in Ganga River. On the next day, devotees observe a full-day fast which is completed in the evening after praying to the sun and the moon during sunset. Third day is called 'pehla argha' or 'saandhya argha'. The devotees and their families go to the river bank and offer prasad to the Sun God during sunset and pray for happiness and prosperity.
On the fourth and the last day, which is the also is known as 'doosra argha', devotees offer their prayers to the Sun God on the river banks before the sunrise and conclude their fast and eat special prasad and delicacies made for the festival.
1. Devotees collect offerings before worshipping
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Hindu devotees collect offerings before worshipping the Sun god on the banks of the Sabarmati river during the religious festival of Chhath Puja in Ahmedabad, India, November 14, 2018.
Photo Credits: Reuters
2. Hindu devotees worship the Sun god
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Hindu devotees worship the Sun god on the banks of the Sabarmati river during the religious festival of Chhath Puja in Ahmedabad, India, November 14, 2018.
Photo Credits: Reuters
3. After taking bath on occasion of Chhat puja, people pray to Sun god
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Devotees offer prayers to the Sun god after taking bath on occasion of Chhat puja, at Dadar Chowpatty in Mumbai, Tuesday, Nov 13, 2018. The Chhath Puja, marked with rigorous rituals, is observed over a period of four days during which devotees fast and abstain from drinking water, stand in water for long periods of time, and offer prasad (prayer offerings) and ''arghya'' to the setting and rising Sun.
Photo Credits: PTI
4. Chhath Puja is marked with rigorous rituals
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Devotees offer prayers to the Sun god after taking bath on occasion of Chhat puja, at Dadar Chowpatty in Mumbai, Tuesday, Nov 13, 2018. The Chhath Puja, marked with rigorous rituals, is observed over a period of four days during which devotees fast and abstain from drinking water, stand in water for long periods of time, and offer prasad (prayer offerings) and ''arghya'' to the setting and rising Sun.
Photo Credits: PTI
5. Chhath puja is observed over a period of four days
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New Delhi: A devotee offers prayers on occasion of Chhath puja, at a pond near India Gate in New Delhi, Tuesday, November 13, 2018. The Chhath Puja, marked with rigorous rituals, is observed over a period of four days during which devotees fast and abstain from drinking water, stand in water for long periods of time, and offer prasad (prayer offerings) and ''arghya'' to the setting and rising Sun.
Photo Credits: PTI
6. Chhath Puja celebrations on the bank of River Tawi, in Jammu
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Jammu: Devotees perform rituals on the occasion of Chhath Puja on the bank of River Tawi, in Jammu, Tuesday, Nov 13, 2018.
Photo Credits: PTI
7. Chhath Puja celebrations at the bank of River Ganga in Kolkata
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Kolkata: Devotees offer prayers on the occasion of Chhath Puja at the bank of River Ganga in Kolkata, Tuesday, Nov 13, 2018.
Photo Credits: PTI
