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Chhath Puja 2025: Dala Chhath, or Surya Shashthi, the grand festival of worshipping Lord Bhaskar, is celebrated every year on the sixth day of the bright fortnight of the Kartik month. This year, the festival will be celebrated on October 27th with offerings of Arghya to the setting Sun. Significantly, this time, the rare conjunction of Ravi Yoga is also occurring, further enhancing the religious significance of this festival.
According to renowned astrologer Pt. Rishi Dwivedi, Chhath will begin with Nahai-Khaay on October 25th and conclude with the offering of Arghya at sunrise on October 28th. This festival is a four-day festival of folk faith, in which devotees worship Lord Surya with purity, restraint, and devotion.
On the first day, after cleaning the house and bathing, a satvik meal is consumed. Devotees abstain from garlic, onion, and tamasic foods. They eat rice and pumpkin curry on this day, and the ritual of sleeping on the ground is observed.
On the second day, devotees observe a waterless fast throughout the day, and in the evening, they consume kheer made from jaggery, roti, and banana as prasad. After this, they remain completely dehydrated and worship the Sun for the next two days.
On the third day, Shashthi Tithi, devotees place fruits, sweets, coconuts, sugarcane, etc. in bamboo baskets and branches and offer arghya to the setting Sun with milk and water on the banks of a river, pond, or lake. This is considered the most important ritual of the Chhath festival.
On the final day, before sunrise, the fasting person stands in the water and offers the second Arghya to the rising Sun. After this, prayers are offered and Prasad is consumed, which is called Parana.
The Dala Chhath fast is observed for happiness, prosperity, wealth, and the birth of children. This tradition of worshipping the Sun dates back to the Vedic period and is also mentioned in the Vedas and Puranas. During the Chhath festival, not only the Sun God but also his two wives, Usha and Pratyusha, and Chhathi Maiya are worshipped.
It is believed that Mother Kunti was the first to observe this fast in the Dwapar Yuga. In the Treta Yuga, Lord Shri Ram, upon returning to Ayodhya after conquering Lanka, observed this fast along with Mother Sita, bringing happiness, peace, and prosperity to their kingdom.
This festival not only symbolizes sun worship but also reflects the deep connection between nature and humanity through purity, devotion, and self-control.
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