PM Modi Encourages Sharing Chhath Puja Songs as Four-Day Festival Begins: A Complete Guide to Ancient Sun Worship Celebration

The four-day Chhath Puja festival this year will commence on Saturday and continue until October 28.

New Delhi:

With Chhath Puja beginning this Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited people to share songs associated with the festival, promising to repost them in the coming days.

On social media platform X, the Prime Minister stated, "Chhath, the grand festival dedicated to nature and culture, is approaching. Devotees across Bihar and the country are already engaged in preparations with devotion. Songs dedicated to Chhathi Maiya further enhance the grandeur and divinity of this sacred occasion. I request you to share songs related to Chhath Puja with me. I will share them with all my countrymen over the next few days."

This year's four-day Chhath Puja celebrations will take place from Saturday through October 28. The festival is a revered occasion where devotees worship the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, seeking blessings for prosperity and well-being.

Chhath Puja ranks among the most important Hindu festivals, primarily celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. The festival is also observed in regions of Nepal and by Indian communities worldwide.

Dedicated to honoring the Sun god and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasizes purity, gratitude, and family well-being.

With origins dating back to the ancient Satyuga and Dwapara Yuga eras, Chhath Puja is considered one of the oldest forms of Sun worship. Devotees observe the festival with rigorous discipline, abstaining from food and water for extended periods to express devotion and seek blessings for prosperity, health, and happiness. Worshipping Surya during Chhath is believed to eliminate negativity from one's life and bring peace and positivity.

The four-day celebration involves detailed rituals symbolizing purification, faith, and self-control:

Day 1 – Nahai Khai: The festival commences with devotees taking a holy dip in a river or pond for purification. They gather vegetables and pulses to prepare the initial offerings, emphasizing cleanliness and sanctity.

Day 2 – Kharna: Devotees observe a strict fast from sunrise to sunset on this day. They prepare offerings of jaggery, rice, and wheat, ending their fast in the evening after presenting offerings to the deity. The prasad is then shared with family, friends, and neighbors to foster unity and community spirit.

Day 3 – Sandhya Arghya: In the evening, devotees gather near water bodies to offer 'arghya' (prayers and offerings) to the setting Sun. They present fruits, sugarcane, and prasad to express gratitude to the Sun god for sustaining life on Earth.

Day 4 – Usha Arghya: The final day is dedicated to offering prayers to the rising Sun. Devotees break their fast after making offerings, symbolizing renewal and spiritual rebirth. The prasad is distributed among family and community members, concluding the rituals.

Chhath Puja is celebrated with simplicity, dedication, and purity. The offerings, including fruits, vegetables, and sweets, represent nature's gifts, while the fasting and prayer rituals signify the devotees' commitment to cleansing body, mind, and soul. The core essence of Chhath Puja is gratitude, fostering respect for natural resources and the harmonious relationship between nature and humanity.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)