Chhath Puja , also known as Surya Shashti or Dala Puja, is a revered four-day festival honouring the Sun God, Surya Dev. In 2024, it began on November 5 and will conclude on November 8. The festival holds immense significance, especially in regions like Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, as well as among the Nepali community.
Sandhya Arghya: The Key Ritual of the Third Day The third day of Chhath Puja, known as Sasthi Tithi, falls on November 7 this year. On this day, devotees perform the Sandhya Arghya ritual, which involves offering prayers to the setting sun. This ritual symbolizes gratitude towards the Sun God for sustaining life on Earth.
Devotees gather at water bodies, holding traditional bamboo baskets filled with prasad and stand in knee-deep water to offer "arghya" (water) to the Sun. Sunset Timings for Sandhya Arghya in Major Cities As per Drik Panchang, the auspicious timings for Sandhya Arghya on November 7 are as follows: Delhi: 5:32 PM Patna: 5:04 PM Mumbai: 6:02 PM Kolkata: 4:56 PM Hyderabad: 5:42 PM Chennai: 5:40 PM These timings vary slightly by location, and devotees prepare accordingly to ensure they perform Sandhya Arghya at the exact moment of sunset. Significance and Rituals of Sandhya Arghya During Chhath Puja, devotees abstain from both food and water in a 36-hour fast.
They offer prayers and make offerings, including fruits like bananas, coconuts, sugarcane, and thekua—a traditional sweet. These offerings, placed in bamboo baskets, are cr.