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Chhath Puja 2024: Date, Puja Muhurat, Significance, Celebration

Published Date: 09-Dec-2022

Chhath Puja or Surya Shashti is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Surya (Sun) and Goddess Chhathi Maiya. Also referred to as Chhath Parv, Dala Chhath, Chhetri or Dala Puja, this festival is celebrated by a 4-day long cultural ritual; holy bathing, Nirjal Vrat (complete abstinence from food and water), offering prayers to the Sun and distributing sweets. It is mainly associated with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. According to the Hindu calendar, Chhath falls on the sixth day of the month of Kartik known as Kartik Shukla Shashti. Chhath Puja 2024 will be celebrated on 5th November (Tuesday).

Check the Chhath Puja 2024 date, muhurat, importance, history, how to celebrate, rituals, places to observe, traditions, and cultures.

About Chhath Puja 2024 Date and Timings

Here are the details for Chhath Puja timings or Muhurat:

  • Chhath Puja 2024 Date: 5 November 2024
  • Holiday Type: Regional
  • Chhath Puja 2023 Date: 19 November 2023

Muhurat of Chhath Puja 2024

The Muhurat for a four-day puja are:

Title Date Day Muhurat
Nahaaye Khaye 5 November 2024 Tuesday
  • Sunrise at 06:15 a.m.
  • Sunset at 05:52 p.m.
Kharna and Lohanda 6 November 2024 Wednesday
  • Sunrise at 06:15 a.m.
  • Sunset at 05:51 p.m.
Sandhya Argha 7 November 2024 Thursday
  • Sunrise at 06:15 a.m.
  • Sunset at 05:51 p.m.
Usha Arghya 8 November 2024 Friday
  • Sunrise at 06:16 a.m.
  • Sunset at 05:51 p.m.

Chhath Puja History and Significance

Chhath Puja | History and Significance

Chhath Puja | History and Significance

Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival in which Lord Surya (Sun) is worshipped; as per popular beliefs, worshipping the Sun god has spiritual and health benefits.

Story of Chhath Puja

It is believed that Rama and Sita observed Chhath Puja for the first time after returning from their exile on Kartik Shukla Shashti which indicates that the holy tradition of worshipping the Sun is as old as the Hindu religion.

Another story for the Chhath Puja festival is of a King named Priyabrat and his wife Malini. They had no child and after many efforts of conceiving, Malini delivered a dead child. The King started losing hope and decided to give up his life. Suddenly, the Manas Kanya appeared and said “I’m an incarnation of the sixth part of the universe. If you worship me with pure mind and soul for six days, you will definitely be blessed with a child”. The King and Queen agreed to worship and were blessed with a beautiful baby.

Why do we Celebrate Chhath Puja?

The festival of Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun, which people believe sustains life on earth. The Chhath Puja is also performed to seek blessings from the Sun to live a healthy, longer, and prosperous life. People from the Indian subcontinent and Terai region of Nepal, celebrate this festival as an occasion to honour Mother Nature by holding a 2-day long fast and worshipping the Sun.

You May Also Like: Ahoi Ashtami

Chhath Puja 2024 Celebrations

Chhath Puja | Celebrations across India

Chhath Puja | Celebrations across India

Chhath Puja is celebrated with immense zeal in the parts of North and East India. Chhath Puja is a 4-day long festival with rituals on each day.

Chhath Puja Traditions and Rituals

Here are the day-wise Chhath Puja celebrations:

Day 1: Nahaaye Khaaye: Nahaye Khaye is the first day of Chhath Puja. It means “to bath and eat”, devotees who fast on the day take a holy dip in a pond, river or other water source on this day.

Day 2: Kharna: On the second day, devotees perform the Nirjala (without food and water) fast. A prasad is provided to the Chhati Mata and distributed amongst relatives and friends.

Day 3: Sandhya Arghya: On the third day, Arghya is offered to the Sun in the evening which has many items like sweets and fruits. People listen to the Chhath Vrat Katha and sing devotional songs at night.

Day 4: Usha Arghya and Paran: On the last day of the Chhath Puja, Arghya is offered to the Sun in the morning. People visit the river bank or a water resource nearby to offer the Arghya. They pray for good health, happiness, and prosperity to Chhathi Mata and the Sun. People who are fasting break their fast by eating ginger and jaggery.

Thekua is the most common dish during Chhath Puja. It is a dry sweet made with wheat flour, dry coconut, melted sugar, and ghee.

Best Places to Observe Chhath Puja 2024 Celebrations in India

Chhath Puja is observed mostly in the northern and eastern parts of India. Some of the famous places are:

1. Bihar

Chhath Puja is one of the main festivals to be celebrated in Bihar. People gather together to offer water and prasad to the Sun and the Chhathi Maiyaa. Friends and relatives greet each other and exchange gifts.

2. Jharkhand

In Jharkhand, lakhs of devotees gather near the pond to offer Arghya to the Sun. Government and organisations set up the events to celebrate the festival.

3. Uttar Pradesh

It is considered to be a Vedic festival in Uttar Pradesh which is dedicated to the Lord Surya (Sun) and Chhathi Maiya. People fast during the festival and prepare for the evening offerings and the morning offerings on the next day.

Year-Wise Chhath Puja Observances

YEAR DAY DATE Event/Festival
2015 Tue 17-Nov Chhath Puja
2016 Sun 6-Nov Chhath Puja
2017 Thur 26-Oct Chhath Puja
2018 Tue 13-Nov Chhath Puja
2019 Sat 2-Nov Chhath Puja
2020 Fri 20-Nov Chhath Puja
2021 Wed 10-Nov Chhath Puja
2022 Sun 30-Oct Chhath Puja
2023 Sun 19-Nov Chhath Puja
2024 Tues 5-Nov Chhath Puja
2025 Mon 27-Nov Chhath Puja

Other Festivals in India with Holiday Type

Festivals in India Day Date Holiday Type
New Year’s Day Mon 01-Jan Restricted Holiday
Lohri Sat 13-Jan Restricted Holiday
Makar Sankranti Sun 14-Jan Restricted Holiday
Pongal Mon 15-Jan Restricted Holiday
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti Wed 17-Jan Restricted Holiday
Republic Day Fri 26-Jan Gazetted Holiday
Losar Sat 10-Feb Restricted Holiday
Basant Panchmi Wed 14-Feb Restricted Holiday
Guru Ravidas Jayanti Sat 24-Feb Gazetted Holiday
Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti Wed 6-Mar Restricted Holiday
Mahashivratri Fri 8-Mar Gazetted Holiday
Holi Mon 25-March Gazetted Holiday
Good Friday Fri 29-Mar Gazetted Holiday
Easter Day Sun 31-Mar Restricted Holiday
Gudi Padwa Tue 9-Apr Restricted Holiday
Eid-ul-Fitr Wed 10-Apr Gazetted Holiday
Vaisakhi (Vishu) Sat 13-Apr Restricted Holiday
Rama Navami Wed 17-Apr Gazetted Holiday
Mahavir Jayanti Sun 21-Apr Gazetted Holiday
Rabindra Jayanti Wed 8-May Restricted Holiday
Buddha Purnima (Vesak) Thu 23-May Gazetted Holiday
Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) Mon 17-Jun Restricted Holiday
Rath Yatra Sun 7-Jul Gazetted Holiday
Muharram (Ashura) Wed 17-Jul Gazetted Holiday
Independence Day Thu 15-Aug Gazetted Holiday
Parsi New Year’s Day (Nauraz) Thu 15-Aug Public Holiday
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi) Mon 19-Aug Restricted Holiday
Janmashtami Mon 26-Aug Restricted Holiday
Ganesh Chaturthi Sat 7-Sep Restricted Holiday
Onam Sun 15-Sep Restricted Holiday
Milad-un-Nabi or Id-e- Milad Mon 16-Sep Gazetted Holiday
Gandhi Jayanti Wed 02-Oct Gazetted Holiday
Dussehra Sat 12-Oct Gazetted Holiday
Valmiki Jayanti Thu 17-Oct Restricted Holiday
Karva Chauth Sun 20-Oct Gazetted Holiday
Dhanteras Tue 29-Oct Restricted Holiday
Diwali Thu 31-Oct Gazetted Holiday
Kali Puja Thu 31-Oct Gazetted Holiday
Lakshmi Puja Thu 31-Oct Gazetted Holiday
Halloween Day Thu 31-Oct No Holiday
Karnataka Rajyotsava Fri 1-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Kerala Piravi Fri 1-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Govardhan Puja Sat 2-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Bhai Dooj Sun 3-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Chhath Puja Thu 7-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Guru Nanak Jayanti Fri 15-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Christmas Wed 25-Dec Public Holiday

FAQs

Q. When is Diwali and Chhath Puja?

A. In 2024, Diwali will be celebrated on 31st October and Chhath Puja in 2024 will be celebrated on 5th November.

Q. For how many days is Chhath celebrated?

A. The Chhath Puja is celebrated for four days which are Nahay Khay, Kharna, Shaam Arghya, and Usha Arghya.

Q. What should be eaten on the day of Chhath Puja?

A. People who fast on the day of Chhath Puja eat only fruits and break the fast with Thekua, Laddu, Kheer, and other famous dishes.

Q. What happens 2 days before Chhath Puja?

A. The first two days before the main day are Nahay Khay and Kharna in which people observe fast and dip in the holy water.

Sargun Preet Kaur
Sargun has an appetite for challenges and creative hurdles that can help her grow as she conquers them one by one. With an innate desire to travel the world, she weaves through life by visiting her dream destinations. When not in her creative zone, Sargun loves to smash in badminton and binge-watch her favourite shows.
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