Chhath Puja

Assamese

Also known as: Chhath Parva, Surya Shashthi

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2026 Assamese Date

Chhath Puja

About Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God Surya and his sister Chhathi Maiya, celebrated on the sixth day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik. In Assam, the festival is observed with great devotion, especially in the northern districts.

The four-day festival involves rigorous fasting, holy bathing, and offering prayers at sunset and sunrise. Devotees, primarily women, stand in water bodies offering arghya (water) to the setting and rising sun while chanting ancient mantras. The offerings include sugarcane, coconuts, bananas, and thekua (a traditional sweet).

Chhath Puja is unique in its emphasis on purity and self-discipline. Devotees observe a nirjala fast (without water) for 36 hours, and the entire process is marked by extreme cleanliness and spiritual discipline. The festival celebrates the life-sustaining energy of the sun.

Vrat Vidhi & Fasting Rules

Chhath Puja involves a four-day observance with strict fasting, ritual bathing, and offering prayers to the Sun God.

Sankalpa Mantra

Om Suryaya Namah, I offer my prayers to the Sun God for the health and prosperity of my family.

Step-by-Step Fasting Procedures:

Begin preparations four days before the main day with ritual bathing and cleaning.
Observe a strict vegetarian diet and maintain absolute cleanliness.
On the main day, observe a nirjala fast (without water) for 36 hours.
Stand in water at sunset and sunrise to offer arghya to the Sun God.

Puja Samagri & Ritual Steps

Essential Puja Samagri:

Sugarcane stalksCoconuts and bananasThekua (traditional sweet)Earthen lamps and diyasNew bamboo baskets (soop) for offeringsHoly water from the Brahmaputra

Puja Procedure:

Clean the puja area and fill the bamboo baskets with offerings.
Stand waist-deep in a water body at sunset and offer arghya to the setting sun.
Maintain vigil through the night with prayers and songs.
Offer arghya to the rising sun the next morning and distribute prasad.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Why is Chhath Puja unique?

Chhath Puja is unique for its strict nirjala fast, the offering of prayers at both sunset and sunrise, and the requirement to stand in water during the offerings.

Q: Who can perform Chhath Puja?

While traditionally performed by women for the well-being of their families, men also observe Chhath Puja. The strict rituals require absolute purity and discipline.

Note: All timings are represented in 24-hour notation in local time of the selected location with DST adjustment (if applicable).

Hours which are past midnight are suffixed with next day date. In Panchang, a day starts and ends with local sunrise.