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Chhath Puja
4 days · Surya, Chhathi Maiya (Usha) · bihar, jharkhand, uttar-pradesh, nepal, diaspora
When: Kartik shukla shashthi (October-November); 4-day festival starting from Kartik shukla chaturthi
The Story
(1) Karna (Mahabharata), son of Surya, popularized Chhath; (2) Sita performed Chhath at Munger after returning from Lanka; (3) Draupadi performed Chhath. Worship of Surya as the visible Brahman.
Vidhi · How It's Done
- Day 1: Nahay-khay — bath in river; vegetarian meal (kaddu-bhaat) at home
- Day 2: Lohanda / Kharna — full-day fast; evening kheer-puri eaten before next day's nirjala
- Day 3 (Sandhya Arghya): Most important — go to riverbank at sunset; women in saris stand in water; offer arghya to setting sun
- Day 4 (Usha Arghya): Pre-dawn return to riverbank; offer arghya to rising sun; conclude fast
- Thekuwa, kasaar, fruits offered in soop (winnowing basket)
Key Mantras
- ॐ ह्रां ह्रीं ह्रौं सः सूर्याय नमः
- Aditya Hridayam
- Surya Ashtakam
Bhog · Festival Foods
Thekuwa · Khasta · Kasaar · Kheer · Coconut · Sugarcane · Bananas · Singhada (water chestnut)
Regional Variants
- · Bihar: Largest celebration; rivers Ganga, Sone, Kosi crowded
- · Eastern UP: Similar observance
- · Diaspora: organized at swimming pools, lakes worldwide (Mauritius, Trinidad, USA, UK)
Sources: Skanda Purāṇa · Padma Purāṇa · Bhaviṣya Purāṇa · Nirṇaya Sindhu · Awaiting scholar verification.