Chhath Puja – The Sacred Essence of “Kharna”

Chhath Puja – The Sacred Essence of “Kharna” 🌞
Text & Photos by – Ashok Karan

Heartfelt wishes on the auspicious occasion of Chhath Puja, especially on the sacred day of “Kharna”, which marks the second day of this divine festival.

The Kharna (also known as Lohanda) holds immense spiritual significance. It represents restraint, purity, and self-discipline. On this day, devotees — known as Vratis — observe a strict nirjala fast (without water) throughout the day, symbolizing complete devotion and self-purification.

As the sun sets, devotees take a holy dip in the Ganga or in clean water, wear new clothes, and prepare offerings of kheer (made with jaggery and milk), roti, and fruits placed in earthen or copper vessels. These are then offered to Lord Surya (Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya with prayers for health, happiness, and prosperity.

After worship, devotees partake in the Kharna Prasad themselves and lovingly distribute it among family, neighbors, and community members — spreading the essence of togetherness, purity, and gratitude.

This day marks the spiritual and physical purification of the devotee, believed to cleanse the soul and prepare them for the rigorous fasting of the following days — Sandhya Arghya (Evening Offering) and Usha Arghya (Morning Offering). Through Kharna, devotees seek forgiveness, divine blessings, and inner peace while embracing positivity and spiritual strength.

Across towns and villages, the atmosphere turns divine — rivers and ponds are cleaned, roads are adorned with lights and flowers, and devotional songs of Chhath Puja echo through loudspeakers, filling the air with spiritual fervor.

The markets, too, come alive with the vibrant sale of Chhath Puja essentials — bamboo baskets, fruits, earthen pots, and puja materials — as families prepare to celebrate this festival of the Sun with devotion and joy.

🌅 About Chhath Puja

• A four-day festival dedicated to Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya, expressing gratitude to nature and the life-sustaining power of the Sun.
• The word “Chhath” means “Sixth,” referring to the sixth day of the lunar month of Kartika when the main rituals are observed.
• Celebrated predominantly in Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal, it holds great importance after Navratri.

🌞 Rituals at a Glance

1. Day 1 – Nahaaye Khaye: Devotees bathe in a river and consume a sanctified meal prepared with that holy water.
2. Day 2 – Kharna: A day-long fast ends with offerings of jaggery kheer, roti, and fruits to the setting sun.
3. Day 3 – Sandhya Arghya: Devotees gather near water bodies with bamboo baskets filled with offerings to worship the setting sun.
4. Day 4 – Usha Arghya: Early morning prayers are offered to the rising sun, marking the end of a 36-hour fast.

Chhath Puja beautifully emphasizes gratitude, simplicity, and the eternal connection between humans and nature — celebrating the Sun as the universal source of life, light, and equality.

🙏 May this Chhath Puja bring peace, prosperity, and positivity to all.

 

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