Four-day rituals

Usha Arghya: Significance of Offering Water to the Rising Sun

Usha Arghya marks the festival's concluding morning. The account details assembling before dawn, presenting Arghya to the ascending sun, performing Parana, and distributing prasad.

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Chhath Puja sunrise greeting artwork with devotees, earthen lamps and offerings along a ghat.
A welcoming artwork honoring the sunrise and the essence of Chhath Puja.

Usha Arghya: Welcoming the Dawn

The fourth and final day of Chhath Puja is called Usha ArghyaOccurring on the Saptami Tithi, this day marks the end of the challenging 36-hour fast with joy and spiritual fulfillment. It celebrates new beginnings, hope, and the life-sustaining energy of the rising sun.

The Early Morning Gathering

Well before dawn breaks, at approximately 3:00 AM or 4:00 AM, families rise and return to the same riverbank or pond (Ghat) they had visited the previous evening. The setting is calm yet vibrant, imbued with the scent of camphor, the flicker of earthen diyas, and the harmonious chants of Chhath Geet.

Offering to Usha (The First Light)

As dawn breaks, the Vrati step once more into the icy water. Grasping the Soop laden with identical sacred offerings—Thekua, fruits, and sugarcane—they turn eastward, patiently waiting for the sun to rise.

As the brilliant red sphere of the sun breaks the horizon, the last sacrifice, or ArghyaDevotees pour milk and sacred water over the offerings, praying to Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya for the well-being, health, and happiness of their families. This ritual honors Usha, the consort of Surya representing the first light.

Parana: Breaking the Fast

Once the Arghya is finished, the Vrati emerges from the water. They offer prayers to the Chhathi Maiya idol or a symbolic clay mound at the Ghat. The most awaited moment then unfolds—the Parana (breaking of the fast).

To safely end the 36-hour waterless fast, the Vrati is offered a piece of ginger with warm water, or occasionally a portion of sacred jaggery and water. After this, devotees touch the Vrati’s feet to receive blessings, as the Vrati is regarded as highly pure and god-like at that time.

The grand festival ends with the extensive distribution of Prasad to all attendees at the Ghat and subsequently in the surrounding neighborhoods, fostering joy and community unity.

The original article text is retained from the provided Chhath Puja collection. Navigation aids, summaries, images, and clearly marked editorial notes have been included in this edition.

Nahay Khay

Nahay Khay begins the four-day festival with ritual bathing, household cleaning, and a customary meal. The guide clarifies the meaning of the name and presents Kaddu Bhaat, chana dal, and Arwa Chawal.

Kharna and its prasad

Kharna, also known as Lohanda, is the second day of Chhath Puja. The article details the evening ritual of offering Rasiyaw and roti, the distribution of prasad, and the commencement of the extended observance.

Sandhya Arghya

Sandhya Arghya centers on the offering to the setting sun. The guide follows preparation of the daura and soop, the family's journey to the ghat and the devotional meaning of the evening ritual.