Chitragupta Puja 2024: Date, Muhurat time, Significance, Rituals and All you need to know

Chitragupta Puja 2024: Date, Muhurat time and more

Chitragupta Puja, a significant Hindu festival, is celebrated primarily by the Kayastha community. This year it will be celebrated on Sunday, November 3. Observed on the second day of the waxing moon phase in the Hindu lunar month of Kartik, known as Kartik Shukla Dwitiya, Chitragupta Puja honours Lord Chitragupta, the divine record-keeper of human deeds.

Chitragupta Puja 2024: Date and Muhurat time

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Chitragupta Puja 2024: Significance

Chitragupta Puja holds deep cultural and spiritual significance, especially within the Kayastha community. Lord Chitragupta, the deity worshipped on this day, is known as the diligent record-keeper of Yamaraj, the god of death. According to Hindu belief, Lord Chitragupta maintains a comprehensive record of the good and bad deeds of every living being, with the responsibility of recording not only visible (Chitra) actions but also hidden (Gupta) deeds. This duality of visible and hidden actions is thought to be the reason behind His name, “Chitragupta.”

Devotees honour Chitragupta Maharaj with offerings of pens, inkpots, and account ledgers, which symbolize His divine duty of record-keeping. The inkpot, traditionally called “Masyadhara,” is central to the ritual, giving the festival its alternate name, Masyadhara Puja. The ceremony symbolizes purity, accountability, and the moral duty to lead a righteous life.

Chitragupta Puja 2024: Rituals

The rituals of Chitragupta Puja begin with devotees preparing offerings and setting up a clean worship area. Pens, inkpots, and account books are placed on the altar, representing the tools used by Lord Chitragupta. Devotees then offer prayers, flowers, and sweets to seek His blessings for good fortune and success. In some regions, participants write down their past actions or thoughts as an act of self-reflection, symbolizing their willingness to improve and take responsibility for their deeds.

The Kayastha community honours Chitragupta as their family deity, and the puja holds immense significance as an opportunity for them to seek His blessings for a righteous life. Community gatherings, cultural events, and feasts often follow the puja, bringing together families in joyful celebration.

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Temples Dedicated to Chitragupta Maharaj

Chitragupta Maharaj’s presence extends beyond individual households; several temples across India and even in Thailand are dedicated to Him. Notable among them is the 250-year-old Chitragupta temple in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, which sees large gatherings of the Kayastha community, especially the day after Holi for an annual celebration. Another significant temple is located in Khajuraho, also in Madhya Pradesh. Built in the 11th century, this ancient structure exhibits the distinctive Nirandhara Prasada architectural style, making it a revered and historic place of worship for Chitragupta’s followers.

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Chitragupta Puja 2024: Cultural Importance

For the Kayastha community, Chitragupta Puja represents much more than tradition; it is a time to reflect on past actions and seek blessings for future endeavors. Devotees believe that by worshipping Chitragupta Maharaj, they invite prosperity, success, and moral clarity into their lives. The festival reinforces the ideals of accountability, family unity, and cultural identity within the Kayastha community, preserving ancient traditions while fostering a sense of communal harmony.

Chitragupta Puja 2024 offers devotees a chance to honour Lord Chitragupta, the divine keeper of records and symbol of justice and accountability. Through rituals, family gatherings, and worship, devotees express their commitment to leading honest lives and improving their deeds. As a day of cultural significance, Chitragupta Puja stands as a reminder of the virtues of integrity and responsibility, values that resonate within and beyond the Kayastha community.

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