TOP 10 Must know things on Chhath Puja
 

Chhath Puja 2020: When is Chhath Puja, Time, Rituals and Significance

Chhath puja, dedicated to the Sun God is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm, especially in states like Bihar, UP, Jharkhand.
<figure class="postImage" data-min-enable="main" data-min-method="true"> https://static.india.com/wp-content/...hhath-Puja.jpg
</figure> Chhath Puja 2020: A four-day festival is majorly celebrated by the people of Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and the Madhesh region of Nepal. Devotees offer argha to Sun God on the festival of Chhath Puja, this year it will be celebrated on November 20.

Chhath Puja Date and Time
Chhath Puja date is November 20, 2020.

This year, the sunrise will take place at 6.48 am and sunset at 5.26 pm.
Shashti Tithi will begin at 9.59 pm on November 19, 2020.
Shashti Tithi will end at 9.29 pm on November 20, 2020.

Chhath puja, dedicated to the Sun God is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm, especially in states like Bihar, UP, Jharkhand. However, due to the pandemic, many states have placed a ban on the congregation and religious rituals citing Covid spread. During this four-day puja, devotees observe fasting. Chhath Puja is also known as Prathihar, Dala Chhath, Chhathi, and Surya Shashthi.

Chhath Puja Rituals:
Day 1: Nahay Khay or Kaddu Bhaat is the first day of Chhath Puja. The one who observes the fast on the first day of Chhath Puja cooks Satvik Kaddu Bhaat and serve it as bhog in the afternoon. It is the beginning of Chhath Puja.
Day 2: The second day of Chhath Puja is called Kharna. People make rice kheer with poori, fruits, dry fruits, and offer it as a bhog.
Day 3: The third day ritual for the Chhath puja is called Sandhya Arghya and is also observed as the main day of this holy festival. The women are supposed to observe a day-long fast and break it only the next day after sunrise. On this day, people prepare fruits and food and visit the ghat in the evening in order to offer arag to lord Surya dev.
Day 4: The last day of the festival is known as Usha Arghya, worshiping the rising sun. On this day, devotees will perform the puja during the sunrise time and then break their fast. This day will mark the completion of all the rituals for the holy festival.

Chhath Puja 2020: Know History And Significance of The Festival Dedicated to The Sun

Chhath Puja 2020: Know about the inception of Chhath Puja and why do we celebrate this festival every year.

https://static.india.com/wp-content/...-Puja-2020.jpg Chhath Puja 2020 (File photo) Chhath Puja is a significant festival for people of North Indian states including Bihar, Jharkhand, and UP. This Hindu Vedic celebration is dedicated to Lord Sun who is considered as the source of power and his wife Usha. Chhath Puja is observed for 4 days in the month of Kartika. This year, the Chhath Puja celebration has already started with Nahay Khaay on November 18. The term ‘Chhath’ literally means ‘six’ and hence it (Sandhya Arag) is observed after six days of Diwali. Also Read - Chhath Puja 2020: When is Chhath Puja, Time, Rituals and Significance

Significance of Chhath Puja
Chhath Parv is performed to seek blessings from the Sun for a healthy, happy, and prosperous life. It is believed that sunlight has cure for various diseases and conditions. It has a healing effect that can benefit ill people. Also Read - Chhath Puja 2020: UP Govt Issues Advisory, Urges Devotees to Perform Rituals at Their Homes

If Yogic philosophies are to be believed, under certain physical and mental conditions, exposing your body to the solar radiation of a particular wavelength can increase the absorption of energy required for life from the Sun instead of food and water. That is why devotees (Vrattis) refrain from eating solid and liquid food during the Chhath Puja and offer Arag to Lord Sun during the sunset and sunrise. This makes the Vrattis, a cosmic powerhouse by making the pranic activity in their body regular providing them a peaceful mind and body.

The main purpose of Chhath Puja is to help the Vrattis gain mental purity. The festival requires maintaining utmost cleanliness. The rituals in the Chhath Puja help the devotees go through biochemical changes that detoxify their bodies and minds.

History of Chhath Puja
There are various stories associated with the origin of Chhath Puja. According to a legend, Pandavas and their wife, Draupadi used to offer prayers to Lord sun to get their lost kingdoms back and solve any problem. It is believed that since then, it became a mandatory custom to perform Chhath Puja.

Some other legends believe the inception of Chhath Puja is associated with Karna who was the son of Lord Surya and Mata Kunti. He was the ruler of Ang Desh, which is currently known as Bhagalpur in Bihar. It is said that Karna used to perform Chhath Puja during his time.