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Chhath Puja spans 4 days. The critical arghya timings are: Day 3 (Sandhya Arghya) at sunset — stand in water and offer arghya to the setting sun. Day 4 (Usha Arghya) at sunrise — offer arghya to the rising sun while standing in water.
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The Vratti (devotee observing the fast) takes a holy bath in a river or pond at sunrise. Prepares and eats a sattvic meal of lauki (bottle gourd) sabzi, chana dal, and rice cooked in an earthen hearth. The home is cleaned thoroughly. From this meal onward, strict purity is maintained.
The Vratti fasts the entire day without water (nirjala). In the evening, after sunset, the fast is broken with kheer (rice pudding made with jaggery and milk) and chapati. This kheer prasad is first offered to Chhathi Maiya, then distributed to family members. After this meal, the 36-hour nirjala (waterless) fast begins.
Prepare all offerings: thekua, rice laddoo, fruits (bananas, coconut, sweet lime), sugarcane, and other items in the bamboo soop. The Vratti, wearing new clothes, goes to a riverbank or water body before sunset. Standing in waist-deep water, the Vratti offers arghya to the setting sun — pouring water and milk through the soop toward the sun while family and community sing Chhath folk songs. Earthen lamps are lit on the soop.
After the evening arghya, a special Kosi ritual may be performed at home — five sugarcane sticks are arranged as a canopy and earthen lamps are lit beneath. The Vratti maintains the nirjala fast through the night, preparing for the dawn arghya.
Before sunrise, the Vratti goes to the same water body with fresh offerings in the bamboo soop. Standing in water, the Vratti offers arghya to the rising sun as it appears on the horizon. Water and milk are offered through the soop. Community members join in singing Chhath geet (folk songs). This is the climactic moment of the entire Chhath Puja.
While offering arghya, chant the Surya Arghya Mantra with folded hands before pouring the water. Face the sun directly with eyes closed or semi-closed.
ॐ सूर्याय नमः। ॐ आदित्याय नमः। ॐ भास्कराय नमः। एहि सूर्य सहस्रांशो तेजोराशे जगत्पते। अनुकम्पय मां भक्त्या गृहाणार्घ्यं दिवाकर॥
oṃ sūryāya namaḥ | oṃ ādityāya namaḥ | oṃ bhāskarāya namaḥ | ehi sūrya sahasrāṃśo tejorāśe jagatpate | anukampaya māṃ bhaktyā gṛhāṇārghyaṃ divākara ||
Salutations to Surya, Aditya, Bhaskara. O thousand-rayed Sun, treasure of radiance, lord of the world — have mercy on me with devotion, O day-maker, accept this arghya.
After the Usha Arghya, the Vratti returns home. The fast is broken by drinking the arghya water (prasad) and eating the thekua and prasad. Family elders bless the Vratti. The 36-hour nirjala fast ends.
Distribute the Chhath prasad (thekua, fruits, rice laddoo) to all family members, neighbours, and community. The prasad is considered highly sacred.