Chhath Puja 2021: Bihar's major festival Chhath will begin from tomorrow, i.e. Monday with Nahay-Khay. Chhath Puja is a prominent festival celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh.
This 36-hour fast is observed strictly without the intake of water. The next day of Nahay Khay is Kharna which is considered to be of great importance. See below the dates of Nahai khay, Kharna, and Arghya as well as sunrise and sunset time.
8 November, Nahay Khay: This is the first day of Chhath Puja, and Nahay Khay is observed on this day. This year Nahay-Khay is on November 8 (Monday). On this day the sunrise will be at 6.02 am and sunset at 5.04 pm.
9 November, 9 Kharna - Kharna is the second day of Chhath Puja. It is on the fifth day of Shukla paksha in Kartik month. On this day, the sunrise is expected to rise at 6.03 am and sunset at 5.04 pm.
10 November, Arghya to setting sun - On this day among Chhath Puja celebrations, devotees give 'arghya' to the setting sun in the evening. On this day, the sunrise is expected to rise at 6.03 am and sunset at 5.03 pm.
11 November, Arghya to rising sun - The last day of Chhath Puja is the seventh day of Shukla paksha in Kartik month. On this day, at sunrise, the Sun God is offered arghya. After which the fast is considered to be completed. On this day the sunrise will be at 6.04 am and sunset at 5.03 pm.
(Note: Sunrise and sunset are according to Patna)
Importance of Chhath Mahaparva
According to mythology, The 'Chhathi Maiya' is considered to be the 'manas putri' (accepted as own daughter) of Brahma and the sister of Lord Surya. The Chhathi Maiya fulfills the wish of having children to the childless. Moreover, women worship her for the long life of children. According to mythology, Lord Krishna had advised Uttara to observe this fast and worship. After the war of Mahabharata, Abhimanyu's wife Uttara's unborn child was killed. So in order to save him, Lord Krishna asked Uttara to keep the Shashti Vrat (Chhath Puja).