Chhath Puja Decoded: What Science Says About the Sun Worship Ritual
Chhath Puja: The Festival of the Sun, Faith, and Gratitude What Is Chhath Puja? Chhath is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to Surya Dev (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, the goddess who protects children. It falls on the sixth day (shashthi) of the Kartik month's bright fortnight, about six days after Diwali. It is celebrated most grandly in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal's Terai, and by diaspora communities worldwide. It runs for four days: Nahay Khay: ritual bath and a simple, pure meal. Kharna : a day-long fast, broken at night with kheer and roti. Sandhya Arghya: a 36-hour waterless fast begins, and devotees offer prayers to the setting sun. Usha Arghya : offerings to the rising sun, then the fast is broken. Spiritual Significance Chhath is gratitude in its purest form. The Sun is the visible source of all life, and devotees thank it for health, prosperity, and the well-being of their families, especially children. The rituals demand discipline: stric...