Chhat Puja / Pratihar Sashthi/Surya Sashthi

 Chhath Puja, also known as Pratihar Sashthi or Surya Sashthi, is a significant Hindu festival celebrated primarily in India and Nepal. It's dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, Surya, and his consort, Chhathi Maiya (Usha).

*Significance:*

1. Gratitude to the Sun: Chhath Puja expresses thanks for the Sun's life-giving energy and its role in sustaining life on Earth.

2. Worship of Usha: Chhathi Maiya, the goddess of dawn, is revered for her power to bring light and hope.

3. Purification and Renewal: The festival promotes spiritual cleansing, self-reflection, and renewal.

*Rituals and Practices:*

1. Fasting (Vrata): Devotees fast for 36 hours, abstaining from food and water.

2. Bathing in Holy Waters: Devotees bathe in rivers, streams, or ponds to purify themselves.

3. Sun Worship: Offerings are made to the setting and rising sun.

4. Prayers and Hymns: Devotees sing traditional songs and recite prayers.

5. Thekua (Offerings): Traditional sweets and fruits are offered to the Sun God.

*Celebration Days:*

1. Nahay Khay (Day 1): Devotees bathe and eat food prepared with pumpkin and chana dal.

2. Kharna (Day 2): Fasting begins, and devotees eat kheer (sweet rice pudding) in the evening.

3. Sandhya Arghya (Day 3): Worship of the setting sun.

4. Usha Arghya (Day 4): Worship of the rising sun.

5. Paran (Day 4): Fasting ends, and devotees break their fast.

*Regional Significance:*

1. Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh: Major celebrations.

2. Nepal: Celebrated as Surya Sashthi.

*Date:*

Typically falls between October 24th and November 22nd, coinciding with the sixth day of the Hindu month of Kartik.

*Key Values:*

1. Gratitude and appreciation for nature.

2. Self-discipline and spiritual growth.

3. Family bonding and community celebration.

Would you like more information on:

1. Hindu festivals and traditions.

2. Sun worship in different cultures.

3. Regional variations of Chhath Puja celebrations.