This preparation narrative shifts from cleaning the household and kitchen to washing and drying the wheat intended for Thekua. It then details purchasing baskets, stoves, wood, and fruits, and arranging a clean room. The article demonstrates how the source portrays Chhath as a collaborative household activity.
The Intense Preparation Behind Chhath Puja
Preparations for Chhath start right after Diwali. The whole household functions with one goal: attaining complete purity for the forthcoming rituals.
The Deep Clean
The house is cleaned thoroughly from floor to ceiling. The kitchen receives a complete renovation—every sign of onion, garlic, and non-vegetarian food is eliminated. Sinks and stoves are scrubbed carefully.
Washing the Wheat (Gehun Dhona)
A communal gathering in which female family members come together to wash the whole wheat grains intended for making Thekua. The wheat is rinsed, laid out on clean cotton cloths to dry under the sun, and carefully watched to prevent birds or insects from coming into contact with it.
Shopping and Organization
Families buy new clay stoves (chulha), dry mango wood, bamboo baskets (Daura and Soop), and flawless fruits. A specific clean room is prepared for the Vrati to sleep on the floor and to keep the Prasad.