Chhath Puja 2021 – The First Day of Chhath Puja is Bath and Eat

Chhath Puja 2021: The First Day of Chhath Puja- Bath and Eat

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The First Day of Chhath Puja

It can say Nuhaune Ra Khane in Nepali (नुहाउने खाने) and Nahai Khai (नहाइ खाई) in Maithili, Bhojpuri and Hindi language. The Chhath Puja falls in either in October or November (Kartik or Mangsir) each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. Some year, it goes to fall in early December too (Push in Nepali Month).

As far as I know, Chhath parba is an ancient Hindu festival, dedicated to Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya who is assumed to be the sister of Surya, Chhath Puja is unique to the various places of our country Nepal and eastern part of India. Chhath parba is the only one Vedic festival which is devoted to the God Sun.

Sun is supposed to be the source of all kind of powers. Sun is the god of energy, life as well as the light. Sun is mainly worshipped with the purpose of promoting well being, development and the prosperity of human beings. During this festival, almost every people plan to thank the Sun God in a period of four days.

Chhath Puja is an eldest and time of Vedic period puja which is mainly celebrated by the natives residing in Mithila region of Nepal as well as by the natives residing in India. Chhath Puja is dedicated to Suryadev and Chhathi Maiya with full of reverence, happiness, and honesty.

Chhath Puja is mainly dedicated to Suryadev and Chhathi Maiya to provide energy and power to do all the things. In this festival, Suryadev is worshiped to give the energy for well being, development of the human being. According to Science, this festival is more eco-friendly because at this festival we obtain vitamin d from the Surya Dev and there no use of any harmful substance which our environment.

In the Hindu religion, Chhath Puja vidhi is the same for all men and women. In 2021 Kartik, Chhath Puja will be celebrated from 31st October to 3rd of November.

The first puja on October 31st is also known as “Nahaay Khae”, the Second puja on November 1st is also known as “Kharna”, The Third puja on November 2nd is also known as “Evening Argh” and 4th and last puja on November 3 is called “Morning Argh”.

In this way, Chhath Puja is celebrated in the same way everywhere.  Chhath Puja is a special festival in which Lord Sun worships from Shukla Paksha to the month of Kartik. Chhath Puja is the festival in which all family gathers and celebrates together with happiness, goodness, prosperity, as well as progress.

Nahaay Khae: – The First Day of Chhath Puja

On this day the Vrati takes a bath with Ganga water in the river Ganga or at home with the help of Ganga water. The term “Vrati” refers to those devotees who take the fast in every days of the Chhath festival.

All the family members take a bath by Ganga water and wear new clothes after bathing. On this day food is prepared in the clay utensils. When the food is prepared, the food and water are given to gods and forefathers in the leaves of Banana.

Then all the members of the family eat the food after taking a bath. Nahaay Khae is also known as the day of Kaddu Bhate because on this day, people prepare rice and Kaddu. Not only rice and Kaddu but also many foods are prepared such as Dal, Pakoda, Roti, etc. Nahaay Khae is the first day of Chhath Puja in which Vrati take bath and eat food.

Kharna: The Second Day of Chhath Puja

It is done on the second day of Chhath puja. On this day Vrati keeps fasting from morning to night. On this day, Vrati prepares the kheer by mixing sugarcane juice along with arwa chawal, Pakwan, etc for making Prasad and then goes in the room for worshipping the gods and give the Prasad to all the gods.

After that all members of the family gathers, prays and enjoys the Prasad of Kheer and Pakwan together. After eating the Prasad, the Vrati keep fasting for about 36 hours. Vrati neither eat nor drink anything from the day of Kharna. In Kharna, fasting is mandatory. In 2021 Kharna will be celebrated on November 1st at night.

Evening Argh: The Third Day of Chhath Puja

It is done on the third day of Chhath puja. Vrati keeps fasting for the whole day and in the evening Vrati gives the Arghya to the sinking sun typically known as Suryadev.

On this day, all the family members take a bath in the evening and wear new clothes and prepare the fruits, Prasad and Pakwan for the Evening Argh. In Evening Argh, the Vrati and their family member go to the nearer river, lake or ponds.

After arriving on the river, the family members make a Kacha of Sand. Then Vrati offer Arghya to the sun and sings the songs for Chhathi Maiya. They return to the house with whole thing after sunset. Evening Argh of 2021 will be celebrated on November 2nd.

Morning Argh: The Fourth Day of Chhath Puja

It was done on the third day of Chhath puja. Vrati and his family wake up in the early morning and take bath and then prepare Dalya for Morning Argh. Firstly clean the Dalya and keep the new fruits, Pakwan, and Prasad. Then they reach to the ghat before sunrise.

Arghya should be given to the rising sun Vrati and his family members. After this, all the people worship the Chhathi Maiya at the morning time of sunrise and return back to home with all the things and Open the fasting by eating Prasad. In this way, Chhath Puja ends. Morning Argh of 2021 will be celebrated on 3rd November.

Things necessary for Chhath Puja:-

• Two or three big bamboo baskets for keeping offerings.
• Lota and glass for Milk and Water.
• New sarees for females and new dhoti for males.
• Necessary fruits like apple, orange, sweet potatoes, etc.
• Coconut with water inside as well as sugarcane with leaf.
• Leaf of banana for Kapoor.

Chhath Puja is one of the most popular festivals in Nepal as well as in India too. This festival also helps, teaches and supports us to clean our soul, mind and all the negativity, negative energy and helps to provide full dedication toward our work i.e. increases concentration power. Chhath puja is a Vedic festival which does not affect the environment in any way at all.

Chhath Pooja falls in 6^th day of Dark Moon of Kartik Month.

The Chhath Puja festival actually runs for four days long. Chhath Puja begins with Nuhane Khane (नुहाउने खाने) or Nahai Khai that means Bath & Eat. On this day, devotee (Vratalu / Vrati) starts their ritual only with bathing and eating.

They should be pure, as it is the festival of clean and purity. As we know that first day of the Chhath Puja is known as Nahai Khai (Bath & Eat), all the Vratalu (devotees) take a bath preferably in sacred river Ganga and bring the holy water to cook offerings (Prasad) at home.

This year the first day of Chhath Puja Nuhaune Khane (Nahai Khai) is at 8, November 2021 (Kartik 22, 2076), Monday.

Happy Chhath Puja 2021.

By Saugat Jung Thapa