Chhath Puja in 2023 Puja Date Timing, History
Chhath Puja in 2023? Know The Chhath Puja Date, Timing, History And Important Dates
Chhath Puja 2023 Date in India: Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to Surya Dev and Shashthi Devi. Chhath Puja is celebrated after Diwali for four days. Chhath Puja, the festival for worshipping Surya, the Sun God, and his wife Usha (Chhathi Maiya), is going to be celebrated by crores of devotees.
It is mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh in India and some parts of Nepal. Chhath Puja is also known as Surya Shashthi, Chhath Mahaparv, Chhath Parv, Dala Puja, Pratihar, and Dala Chhath.
When is Chhath Puja in 2023? Complete Calendar
This year, Chhath Puja will be celebrated on Friday, November 17, and last until Monday, November 20, 2023.
Chhath Puja 2023 Fasting Dates
The four-day festival starts with the Chhath Nahay Khay, which will be celebrated on Friday, November 17 this year. The second day is Lohanda and Kharna, which will take place on Saturday, November 18. On the evening of the third day, Sunday, November 19, Sandhya Arghya will be offered to the Sun God. The festival will end with the offering of Usha Arghya to the rising sun on the morning of the fourth day on Monday, November 20, 2023.
| Chhath Puja Rituals | Date and Day |
|---|---|
| Chhath Nahay Khay | Friday, November 17 |
| Lohanda and Kharna | Saturday, November 18 |
| Sandhya Arghya | Sunday, November 19 |
| Usha Arghya | Monday, November 20 |
Shubh Timings for Chhath Puja 2023
Sunrise on Chhath Puja Day: 06:40 AM
Sunset on Chhath Puja Day: 05:26 PM
Chhath Puja 2023 Date in Bihar:
In Bihar, This year, Chhath Puja will be celebrated on Friday, November 17, and last until Monday, November 20. During the puja, women fast for 36 hours and pray for the health, happiness, and long life of their children. Have a look at the ritual calendar for Chhath Puja 2023.
What is Chaiti Chhath Puja?
Chaiti Chhath Puja is a four-day Hindu festival that is celebrated in the month of Chaitra, which usually falls in March or April. The festival is dedicated to the Sun God, and is celebrated mainly in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal.
What are the four days of Chaiti Chhath Puja?
The four days of Chaiti Chhath Puja are as follows:
Nahay Khay: The first day is called Nahay Khay, when devotees take a bath in the river or pond and then eat a simple meal.
Kharna: The second day is called Kharna, when devotees fast for the entire day and then feast on a special meal.
Arghya: The third day is called Arghya, when devotees offer prayers to the Sun God at sunrise and sunset.
Usha Arghya: The fourth and final day is called Usha Arghya, when devotees offer prayers to the Sun God at sunrise.
What are the rituals of Chaiti Chhath Puja?
The rituals of Chaiti Chhath Puja vary from region to region, but some common rituals include:
Taking a bath in the Holy River: This is a symbolic cleansing of the body and mind.
Fasting: Devotees fast for the entire day on Kharna and Usha Arghya.
Offering prayers to the Sun God: This is the most important ritual of the festival.
Making offerings to the Sun God: Devotees offer prayers, flowers, fruits, and sweets to the Sun God.
Seeing the Sun God: Devotees break their fast after seeing the Sun God at sunrise.
What is the significance of Chaiti Chhath Puja?
Chaiti Chhath Puja is a festival of thanksgiving and devotion. Devotees thank the Sun God for providing them with life, health, and prosperity. The festival is also a time for families to come together and celebrate.
What are some of the common customs and traditions of Chaiti Chhath Puja?
Some of the common customs and traditions of Chaiti Chhath Puja include:
Wearing new clothes: Devotees typically wear new clothes for the festival.
Applying mehndi: Mehndi is a traditional art form that is applied to the hands and feet of women during the festival.
Wearing jewelry: Devotees typically wear jewelry, such as gold chains and earrings, during the festival.
Lighting diyas: Devotees light diyas, or lamps, to illuminate the path of the Sun God.
Ritual Calendar Of Chhath Puja 2023
Here are some of the rituals performed during Chhath Puja:
For their sons’ welfare and the happiness of their families, married women observe fasting during the Chatt Puja holiday. With great zeal and enjoyment, this event is mostly observed in the state of Bihar and neighbouring Nepal.
Chhath Puja 2023: Nahaye Khaye (Day 1)
The first day of Chhath, which is when the festival begins, is referred to as Nahay Khay. The devotees fast on this day and take only one meal, in addition to taking a sacred bath in the river Ganga.
Chhath Puja 2023: Lohanda and Kharana (Day 2)
Kharna is the name of the festival’s second day. On this day, from sunrise to sunset, women keep a complete fast without drinking any water. Just after sunset in the evening, the fast is broken, and food is prepared and offered to the sun. The third day of fasting starts right after the second day’s prasad.
Chhath Puja 2023: Sandhya Arghya (Day 3)
On the third day, a waterless daylong fast is observed. The third day, also known as Sanjhiya Ghat, is the primary Chhat Puja day. The essence of this day is making an Arghya offering to the setting sun. The third day’s fasting lasts all night long. After daybreak the following morning, the parna starts.
Chhat Puja 2023: Usha Arghya (Day 4)
People offer Usha Argya, also known as Arghya, to the rising sun on the fourth or last day of Chhath. The 36-hour fast is completed after Arghya.
Chhath Puja 2023: Significance
Chhath Puja, the festival for worshipping Surya, the Sun God, and his wife Usha (Chhathi Maiya), is going to be celebrated by crores of devotees. Chhat Puja is celebrated with great grandeur all over the world by the people of the Bihari community. This year, Chhath Puja has already started with (Chaturthi Tithi) on November 17, 2023, with Nahaye Khaye, and it will culminate with (Saptami Tithi) Usha Arghya on November 20, 2023. Women observe strict fasts these days. Chhat Puja is observed on Shashti Tithi (30 October) of Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik.
History of Chhath Puja:
It is thought that on Kartik Shukla Shashti, following their return from banishment, Rama and Sita performed their first Chhath Puja, signifying that the veneration of the sun predates the Hindu faith.
An additional tale associated with the Chhath Puja celebration tells of King Priyabrat and his spouse, Malini.
They never had children, and even though Malini tried her hardest to get pregnant, she gave birth to a dead infant. As the king started to lose hope, he decided to take his own life.
Manas Kanya materialized out of nowhere and declared, “I am an incarnation of the sixth part of the universe.” You will undoubtedly be rewarded with a kid if you worship me for six days with an unadulterated mind and spirit.
The upshot of the King and Queen’s assent to worship was the gift of a beautiful child.
Significance of Chhath Puja 2023:
The main focus of Chhath Puja is Surya, the Sun God. Since the sun is seen as the source of all life and energy, those who pray to it ask for blessings that will lead to a long and fruitful life.
The event starts with a ritual bath in a natural body of water, signifying the soul’s and body’s cleansing.
An important component of Chhath Puja, this washing ritual emphasizes the value of both physical and spiritual cleanliness.
Families and communities get together during Chhath Puja. A sense of cohesion and solidarity is fostered by the rituals, shared fasting, and offering preparation.
It strengthens family bonds and cultivates a strong sense of belonging.
Chhath Puja 2023 Rituals:
The four-day Chhath Puja festival celebration period involves the performance of the following rites, which are also known as Surya Shashthi, Chhathi, Dala Chhath, and Prathihar.
- The first day of Chhath Puja is called Nahaye Khaye, which translates as “to bathe and eat.” On this day, those who follow the fast take a sacred plunge in a river, pond, or other body of water.
- 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.
- Sandhya Puja Chhath The third day is when Arghya falls. Arghya is presented to Lord Sun on this day. To adorn a soop, use fruits, rice laddoos, and thekua. After that, the Sun God will receive the Arghya from devotees and their families.
- Usha Arghya, in which the Arghya is presented to the rising sun, is done on the last and fourth days of the Chhath Puja. On this day, the Vrattis visit the riverbanks with their family and perform the ritual with tremendous fervor and devotion.
