Chhath Puja, celebrated with immense devotion and purity, is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to worshipping the Sun God. Chhath Puja this year will be celebrated on Thursday, November 7, 2024. The third day of Chhath, known as Sandhya Arghya, holds special importance, as devotees offer prayers and Arghya (water offering) to the setting Sun. This day embodies gratitude, purification, and worship, allowing devotees to cleanse their bodies and minds and express their devotion to the Sun God, Surya.
Chhath Puja 2024 Sandhya Arghya Timing
| Event | Dare and Time |
| Chhath Puja | Thursday, November 7, 2024 |
| Sandhya Arghya (evening offering) | 5:31 PM on November 7, 2024. |
| Sunrise on Chhath Puja Day | 06:37 AM |
| Sunset on Chhath Puja Day | 05:31 PM |
Sandhya Arghya: Significance
On Sandhya Arghya, devotees undertake a strict fast from sunrise until dusk, abstaining from food and water as a form of self-purification. The evening ritual signifies gratitude to the Sun, which sustains life on earth. Devotees believe that worshipping Surya during the Chhath Puja period brings health, prosperity, and blessings for their families.
This evening ritual is marked by simplicity, purity, and reverence. Devotees gather at natural water bodies such as rivers, ponds, or lakes, where they take a holy bath to cleanse and purify themselves. The offering of Arghya to the Sun represents a unique connection between nature and spirituality in Hindu tradition.
Chhath Puja 2024: Date,Time, Rituals, Significance and all you need to know
Sandhya Arghya: Mantras
While offering Arghya to the Sun, devotees chant sacred mantras to invoke blessings. These mantras are said to increase focus and heighten the spiritual experience of the puja.
Chhath Puja 2024: Rituals and Offerings
Devotees perform the Sandhya Arghya with various traditional offerings and rituals, including preparing sacred food items as part of the bhog (food offering) to the Sun. Women, in particular, spend hours preparing thekua (a wheat-based sweet), kheer (rice pudding), and other seasonal fruits. These foods represent devotion, simplicity, and purity, essential qualities for those observing Chhath Puja.
Once the food is prepared, families come together at the water's edge, where they cleanse themselves through a holy bath. This act of bathing symbolizes a fresh start, washing away past impurities. The prayers, offered at the riverbank as the Sun sets, are the ultimate expression of gratitude for life and divine blessings.
Chhath Puja 2024: World's only festival where devotees pray to both setting and rising sun
Chhath Puja: Significance
Chhath Puja is observed mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, but has gained popularity throughout India and abroad. The strict discipline of fasting, prayer, and cleansing rituals reinforces the importance of purity, humility, and respect for natural elements. Devotees believe that performing Chhath Puja with complete dedication helps to remove obstacles from their lives, ensuring prosperity and well-being for their families.
Chhath Puja also reminds participants of the interconnectedness between humans and nature. By offering gratitude to the Sun, the ultimate source of energy, devotees honor the balance of life on Earth and the Sun's role in it.
This unique and powerful celebration strengthens community bonds and reminds every one of the importance of respecting and cherishing nature’s blessings.
Also Read | Happy Chhath Puja 2024: Top 40+ Best Chhath Puja Wishes, Messages, Status, Quotes & Greetings
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