Chhath Puja Vrat: Fasting Rules, Traditions and Complete Puja Vidhi

The Unyielding Discipline of the Chhath Vrat

The Chhath Puja fast (Vrat) is recognized as one of the most challenging and strictest fasts in Hindu tradition. The individual undertaking the fast, referred to as the Vrati (typically women, although men also participate) are required to follow extremely strict guidelines of purity, endurance, and dedication.

The 36-Hour Nirjala Fast

The core of the Chhath Vrat is the 36-hour Nirjala Fasting implies that the Vrati must abstain from eating any food or drinking any water. This fast starts on the evening of Kharna (Day 2) after partaking in the Rasiyaw Prasad and continues uninterrupted through Sandhya Arghya (Day 3), ending only at sunrise on Usha Arghya (Day 4).

Strict Rules of Purity

Purity holds utmost importance during Chhath. The guidelines apply not only to the Vrati but to the whole household:

• No Onion or Garlic: The kitchen needs to be completely cleared of onions, garlic, and any non-vegetarian products several days beforehand.
• Sleeping on the Floor: From the very first day (Nahay Khay), the Vrati rests on the floor using a simple mat or blanket, giving up the comfort of beds.
• Unstitched Clothing: Vratis are required to wear new, unstitched garments. Women usually don a cotton sari without a blouse or petticoat, while men wear a dhoti. Preferably, the clothes are dyed using natural turmeric.
• No Leather: Leather belts, shoes, or bags are not allowed during the Puja and the procession to the Ghat.
• Spotless Cooking: The Chhath Prasad (Thekua, Kheer) should be prepared on a distinct, newly built mud stove (chulha) using solely dry wood, and never on a modern gas stove. The cook must wash their hands repeatedly.

The Complete Puja Vidhi

The Vidhi (ritual) demands significant physical stamina. Standing in cold water for hours at both sunset and sunrise calls for great determination. The Vrati carries the heavy bamboo basket (Soop) as prayers are recited. It is strongly believed that the Vrati absorbs energy straight from the sun, enabling them to endure hunger, thirst, and cold without tiring.