Chhath Puja 2024: Chhath Puja is one of the most significant festivals in India, especially celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and the Terai region of Nepal. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, this festival spans four days of rituals involving fasting, prayer, and offering arghya (a ritual offering). Here, we explore how to offer arghya during Chhath Puja, the importance of evening and morning arghya, and the process of parana (breaking the fast).
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Importance of Arghya in Chhath Puja
Arghya involves offering water to the Sun God, symbolizing devotion, gratitude, and a request for blessings of health, prosperity, and well-being. During Chhath Puja, arghya is offered to both the setting sun (sandhya arghya) and the rising sun (usha arghya), marking significant moments of devotion.
Sandhya Arghya (Evening Offering)
The sandhya arghya is offered on the third day of Chhath Puja at sunset. This ritual focuses on expressing gratitude to the setting Sun for sustaining life.
- Materials Needed: Bamboo basket, coconut, fruits, sugarcane, thekua (a traditional sweet), rice-based sweets, a small oil lamp, soop (winnowing basket), milk, and holy water (preferably Ganga water).
- Procedure:
- Devotees, known as vratis, gather at a riverbank or a pond with their prayer items.
- Standing in the water, they offer arghya to the setting Sun using a mixture of milk and water while holding the basket filled with offerings.
- Traditional songs and hymns dedicated to Chhath Maiya and the Sun God are sung, creating a sacred atmosphere.
Usha Arghya (Morning Offering)
The usha arghya is offered on the fourth and final day of Chhath Puja, during sunrise. It signifies new beginnings, hope, and divine blessings.
- Materials Needed: Same as those for the evening arghya.
- Procedure:
- Devotees arrive at the waterbody before dawn and prepare for the ritual.
- As the first rays of the Sun appear, the vratis stand in the water and offer arghya to the rising Sun, accompanied by prayers and songs.
- After offering arghya, they seek blessings from family members and Chhathi Maiya.
Chhath Puja 2024 Parana Vidhi (Breaking the Fast)
The parana marks the conclusion of Chhath Puja, where the fast is broken after the morning arghya.
- Procedure:
- The vratis break their fast by drinking holy water and consuming prasad such as thekua and fruits.
- Family and friends gather to share in the offerings and seek the blessings of the vratis, completing the four-day festival.
Conclusion: The rituals of evening and morning arghya in Chhath Puja are not only religious acts but also profound expressions of respect and gratitude toward nature and the Sun God. The parana signifies the joyful end of a devoted observance, leaving the devotees with a sense of spiritual fulfillment.
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