Chhath Puja is here! The festival is dedicated to the worship of Lord Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya (the goddess who safeguards children) and is observed with great devotion in regions like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and parts of Nepal. The key rituals of Chhath take place during the sunset and sunrise hours, which is why ‘sunset time’ has become the top search query on Google. Since devotees are keen to perform their rituals at the prescribed times, it is easy to see why this query has floated to the top of Google Trends.
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Sunset Timings for Sandhya Arghya on November 7 (2024)
Here are the city-specific sunset timings for Chhath Puja on November 7, 2024:
- New Delhi: 5:32 PM
- Patna: 5:04 PM
- Ranchi: 5:07 PM
- Kolkata: 4:56 PM
- Mumbai: 6:02 PM
- Ahmedabad: 5:58 PM
- Hyderabad: 5:42 PM
- Jaipur: 5:40 PM
- Lucknow: 5:19 PM
- Raipur: 5:24 PM
- Chennai: 5:40 PM
- Chandigarh: 5:30 PM
- Shimla: 5:28 PM
- Bhubaneswar: 5:09 PM
The most crucial ritual on November 7, Sandhya Arghya, involves offering prayers and offerings to the setting Sun, which marks the third day of the festival.
Chhath Puja: Significance and Rituals
Chhath Puja is rooted in deep mythology, with the Sun God regarded as the giver of life and energy. Devotees believe that by honoring Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya, they can secure blessings for health, prosperity, and the well-being of their families, particularly for the safety and future of children. It is a 4-day festival:
Nahay Khay (Day 1): The festival begins with devotees taking a holy dip in rivers or lakes to purify themselves. This is followed by a simple meal, often consisting of rice and vegetables. Women who perform the rituals typically fast throughout the day but consume one meal.
Kharna (Day 2): On this day, the fast becomes more rigorous, as it involves fasting without water from sunrise to sunset. After sunset, devotees prepare offerings of kheer (a traditional sweet dish) and offer them to the Sun God, marking the completion of the day’s ritual.
Sandhya Arghya (Day 3): The third day involves another full day of fasting without water. The central ritual of the day is the Sandhya Arghya, where offerings are made to the setting Sun. This is a special moment during Chhath Puja, as it is the only time of year when worshipers honor the Sun during sunset.
Usha Arghya (Day 4): The final day of the festival sees devotees offering Usha Arghya, or prayers to the rising Sun. After offering prayers at sunrise, the devotees break their fasts, marking the end of the 36-hour fasting period.
Throughout the festival, the emphasis is on purity, devotion, and discipline, with participants maintaining strict rules about food, behavior, and physical endurance. In addition to the rituals, the devotees also prepare for the festival by gathering ingredients for the offerings, which include fruits, sugarcane, and the famed “thekua” (a type of sweet made from wheat flour, jaggery, and coconut).
Chhath Puja is a powerful blend of mythology, ritual, and spirituality, where millions of devotees seek the blessings of Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya. Whether it is the reverence for the life-giving Sun or the devotion to protecting and ensuring the prosperity of families, Chhath Puja remains an integral part of the cultural fabric in many parts of India. The festival, with its strict fasting, intricate rituals, and deep spiritual meaning, stands as a testimony to the enduring power of faith and tradition.
