Chhath Puja comes after Diwali and is broadly celebrated in northern India, particularly in components of UP and Bihar. Chhath means six. Chhath Puja is the puja that’s carried out on the sixth day after Diwali.

The 2023 Chhath Puja occurs on November 19

• Dawn on Chhath Puja Day – 6:46 AM
• Sundown on Chhath Puja Day – 5:26 PM
• Shasthi Tithi begins: 9:18 AM, November 18
• Shasthi Tithi ends: 7:23 AM November 19

Chhath Puja is extra precisely a four-day celebration beginning on the second day after Amavasya until the sixth day after Amavasya. The Amavasya of Kartik month, which is Diwali, is seen because the darkest evening within the Hindu calendar. Two days later, the Moon begins getting seen once more. The return of the sunshine. The celebration that begins on this present day, peaks on Panchami, or the fifth day, and concludes on the morning of the sixth day. That is the Chhath Puja competition. Since it’s the Solar who’s the supply of sunshine on Earth, the Solar god is worshipped throughout this Puja.

Deity of worship

The Solar or Surya Deva is worshipped throughout Chhath Puja. The worship displays the significance given to gentle in Vedic science. The Amavasya or the New Moon day through the month of Karthik is taken into account the darkest of the yr. Darkness invitations adverse vitality. To dispel such adverse energies, diyas are lit as a part of Diwali celebrations throughout Kartik Amavasi. Two days later, the crescent of the Moon will seem within the sky. This look of the Moon heralds the arrival of sunshine to stop Earth from going utterly darkish. However, the Moon doesn’t by itself give out gentle. The Moon displays the sunshine of the Solar since it’s the Solar that’s the main supply of sunshine. The astrologers of historic Bharath knew this. Therefore, Chhath Puja is devoted to the Solar.

Chhath Puja mantras

Mantras are hymns designed to unlock powers hidden deep within the unconscious thoughts by way of repeated uttering. There are completely different mantras meant to invoke a sure Devi or Deva. For mantras to deliver impact, the utmost self-discipline of the physique and thoughts is critical. Every day on the Earth brings with it sure forces which might be distinctive to the cosmic alignment of that day. Chanting sure mantras on a selected day brings particular outcomes. It will probably deliver vital constructive adjustments to the lifetime of the particular person.
Chhath Puja sees the worship of Surya Deva. Chanting mantras associated to Surya Deva improves the standard of Surya or the Solar within the horoscope of an individual. If the particular person is affected by some sort of Surya Dosha, the consequences will be mitigated by chanting the next mantras through the days of the Chhath Puja. 

Whereas performing Chhath Puja, chant these names of the Solar:

Om Mitraya Namah: Om Raway Namah: Om Surya Namah: Om Bhanve Namah: Om Khagay Namah: Om Ghrini Surya Namah: Om Pushne Namah: Hiranyagarbhaya Namah: Marichaye Namah: Adityaya Namah: Savitre Namah: Arkay Namah: Bhaskarai Namah: Sri Savitri Suryanarayanaya Namah:

Suryadev mantra (Chhath Puja Surya mantra)

Adidev Namastubhyam Prasidam Bhaskar, Divakar Namastubhyam Prabhakar Namostute.

Arghya Mantra (Chhath Puja Surya Arghya mantra)

Oh aihi Suryadev Sahasransho Tejo Rashi Jagatpatte, Om Surya Namah, Om Adityaya Namah, Om Namo Bhaskarai Namah. Arghya Samarpayami.

Chhath Puja rituals

The Chhath Puja is a four-day occasion. It begins on the second day after Amavasya. That’s when the crescent of the Moon seems. With every passing day, the Moon grows bigger, until the day of Panchmi, or the fifth day, which is taken into account probably the most auspicious. On the morning of the sixth day or the Shashti day, the Chhath Puja concludes. 
On the primary day, devotees take a shower within the holy river after which eat sattvic meals. That is known as ‘Nahaay and Khay’, which suggests tub and meals. The home and environment are cleaned and made tidy. The second day is for Lohanda Kharna, which suggests fasting. Devotees spend your entire day fasting with out even consuming a drop of water. Within the night sugarless kheer, puri, and bananas are used to interrupt the quick.
The third day is the day of Panchami the place devotees observe the Sandhya Arghya or the providing at nightfall. On this night, the devotees get themselves to the banks of the holy river and pay their respects dealing with the setting Solar. The fourth or the ultimate day of the Chhath Puja, which is Shashti day, sees the devotees observe Usha Arghya. Right here the devotee wakes up early within the morning, goes to the river financial institution, and pays his respects to the rising Solar. After this, breakfast is eaten thus placing an finish to the Chhath Puja.

Chhath Puja tales

Chhath Puja is talked about in each Ramayana and Mahabharata. In Ramayana, it’s mentioned that Devi Sita noticed Chhath Puja to make sure affluent days forward after their return to Ayodhya. Lord Rama was put into exile for fourteen years by his stepmother Kaikeyi. This era ended with Lord Rama defeating Ravana and gaining Devi Sita again.
After this, Lord Rama selected Amavasya of the Kartik month to return to Ayodhya. After reaching Ayodhya, Lord Rama wished to place his 14 years of sacrifice firmly prior to now and begin anew. Lord Rama is a descendant of the Surya Vansha. For her husband’s sake, Devi Sita noticed a quick on the day of Panchami and ended it by worshipping the Surya Deva within the night. This observe then developed to grow to be the Chhath Puja that’s noticed in modern-day India. 
In Mahabharata, it’s believed Devi Kunti conceived Karna because of her common observing of the Chhath Puja. It is usually talked about that Draupadi, the spouse of the Pandavas noticed Chhath Puja for the well being and welfare of her husbands. 

Significance of Chhath Puja. 

Chhath Puja is the celebration of sunshine because the core of all existence. The Shashti that comes after Kartika Amavasya is the perfect time to have fun the reward of sunshine. That is corroborated by fashionable science as properly. The sixth tithi of the Kartik Shukla Paksha is seen as a singular astronomical occasion. The Solar is within the southern hemisphere throughout this time. The rays of the Solar have extra UV content material in them. Worshipping the Solar or the Surya Deva within the night and the morning is an efficient solution to negate such results of the Solar. 
Chhath Puja is useful in eliminating toxins from the physique. It additionally destroys micro organism and prepares the physique for the winter months forward. Observing Chhath Puja protects kids from ailments and issues and grants them good well being and lengthy life.