Chhath Puja – Day 2: Kharna, know its significance and rituals

Kharna is the second day of the four-day Chhath Puja festival, which is celebrated mainly in Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. It falls on the sixth day of the Hindu month of Kartik Maas. Kharna is a day of strict fasting and abstinence, and devotees offer prayers and offerings to the Sun god (Surya).

Significance of Day 2- Kharna

Kharna is a day to express gratitude to the Sun god (Surya) for his life-sustaining energy. Devotees believe that by observing the strict fast and offering prayers, they can appease Lord Sun (Surya) and receive his blessings. Kharna is also believed to be a time to purify the body and mind, and to prepare for the main day of Chhath Puja, which is Surya Shashthi.

Rituals of Kharna

On the day of Kharna, devotees wake up early and take a holy bath in a river or pond. They then prepare a special prasad, which is a sweet dish made with jaggery, rice, and ghee. The prasad is offered to Surya as a symbol of gratitude.

Devotees then observe a strict nirjala vrat, which is a fast without water. The fast is believed to test the devotee's willpower and devotion to Surya. The fast is broken only after offering arghya, or prayers to Lord Sun.

Kharna puja method

• From today, the fasting people will start fasting for 36 hours without water.
• After performing puja this evening, women will observe a waterless fast for 36 hours and offer Arghya to the Sun.
• In the evening, ghee-based bread, jaggery kheer and fruits are offered to the Lord.
• After offering Bhog, women take it as Prasad.
• This fast ends after offering Arghya to the Sun on the fourth day.
• Women start preparing to make Prasad a day in advance to offer Arghya the next day.
• Don’ts during Chhath fast
• Do not allow small children to touch any puja item.
• Do not feed prasad to the child until the puja is completed.
• Never use abusive language with the devotee or family members during Chhath Puja.
• Women who observe Chhath Maiya fast should sleep on a cloth spread on the floor instead of sleeping on a bed or cot for all four days.
• During Chhath festival, the entire family including the fasting person should consume Satvik food.
• Make sure to clean your hands before touching any puja item.

(Disclaimer: This information has been collected from various mediums like astrologers, almanacs, beliefs or religious scriptures and has been presented to you. Please consult experts while making related decisions.)