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Chhath Puja is a special festival in India. It is about thanking the Sun God, Surya, and his wife, Usha. This festival goes on for four days. People celebrate it with joy in places like Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and also in some parts of Nepal. It is a festival of unity and harmony, where people from different caste and places come together to celebrate.

In 2023, the Kartik Chhath Puja, a very special festival, will be celebrated from November 17th to 20th. This festival happens twice a year according to the Hindu calendar - once during Chaitra (around March-April) and once during Kartik (around October-November).

On the first day of Chhath Puja, called Nahay Khay, people wake up early and take a holy bath in a river or a pond. This bath is considered very important as it is thought to purify the body and soul. After the bath, many people start a fast where they eat very little or nothing at all. This is done to show respect and devotion to the Sun God.

On the same day, people also prepare special food known as prasad. This food is made with a lot of care and love, and it is offered to the Sun God during the festival. Besides preparing the prasad, everyone gets busy with other arrangements for the upcoming days of the festival.

Nahay Khay marks a serene and sacred beginning to Chhath Puja, setting the tone for devotion and reverence in the days to follow.

On the main day of Chhath Puja, people keep fasting. They don't eat or drink anything, not even water, for 36 hours. This shows their strong faith and respect for the Sun God. During this time, they get ready for a very special part of the festival. In the evening, everyone gathers near a river or water body. They offer arghya to the setting sun. Arghya is an offering of water and milk, given to show respect and gratitude. People also sing traditional songs and dance. These songs and dances are full of joy and tell stories related to the festival and the Sun God. Along the riverbanks, many lamps are lit. This creates a beautiful and peaceful scene.

For prasad, they have special foods like kheer (a sweet rice pudding), bananas, and rice. This food is shared among everyone, symbolizing unity and blessing.

On the main day of Chhath Puja, devotees spend the day preparing prasad, which is a special offering made to the Sun God. This prasad is carefully placed in a bamboo tray. The preparation of prasad is a significant part of the day's activities, as it symbolizes devotion and gratitude. As the sun begins to set, the devotees, often dressed in bright yellow sarees, a color symbolizing purity and devotion, head to the nearest river bank. This moment is very important in the festival. If they don't live near a river, any water body like a lake or a pond is also considered suitable for the ritual.

At the water's edge, they offer the prasad to the Sun God. This offering is a way of giving thanks to the Sun for sustaining life on Earth and seeking blessings. The atmosphere during this time is serene and filled with devotion, as people come together in prayer and celebration.

On the last day of Chhath Puja, devotees end their 36-hour fast. Early in the morning, they go to the river bank or any nearby water body. There, they offer prayers to the rising sun. This is a beautiful and peaceful moment. After praying, they share prasad with family and friends. This sharing is a happy time, full of love and joy, marking the end of the festival.

Chhath Puja was very popular in the medieval times. People celebrated it with a lot of love and devotion. During the British rule in India, the festival lost its importance and was almost forgotten. But later, different social and cultural groups worked to bring it back. Now, Chhath Puja is again a very important festival, especially in Bihar and Jharkhand where it's a state festival. It's a festival that has been around for a long time and is still celebrated with great joy and faith, just like in the old times.

1. Bihar Bihar treats Chhath Puja as a special state event. Here, the festival is a big deal, especially near the Ganga river. People in Bihar enjoy the festival by singing traditional songs, dancing, and sharing good wishes and gifts with each other.

2. Jharkhand Like Bihar, Jharkhand holds Chhath Puja in high regard. It's one of the most celebrated festivals in the state. People in Jharkhand observe it with a big parade and by lighting beautiful lamps along the river's edge.

3. Uttar Pradesh In Uttar Pradesh, particularly in the east and in towns like Varanasi, Ghazipur, and Ballia, Chhath Puja is a major event. Huge crowds gather to offer arghya to the Sun God. The festival here is known for sharing prasad widely among the people.

4. Nepal Terai Chhath Puja crosses borders into Nepal, mainly celebrated in the Terai region. Many Nepalese also join in the festivities in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. In Nepal, the festival includes gathering at river banks, offering arghya to the Sun God, and enjoying traditional music and dance.

During Chhath Puja, the prasad is very tasty. It's made with jaggery, ghee, and atta, which is wheat flour. These ingredients are good for health and have lots of protein.

People also make special dishes and sweets for the Gods. Some popular ones are Thekua and Rasia Kheer.

The prasad also includes dry fruits, coconut, banana, dabh lemon, sugar canes, and special rice laddoos. These items add to the variety and richness of the offerings.

1. Rangoli: For Chhath Puja, people create Rangoli, also known as Alapana, at their homes. This involves drawing beautiful designs with colored powders at the entrance. The designs often feature sun and moon shapes and traditional symbols.

2. Diyas: Lighting diyas and candles is a common practice in Chhath Puja. These small lamps, filled with oil and a wick, are placed around homes, especially near the entrance and the area where the puja is conducted.

3. Flowers: Using fresh flowers like marigold, hibiscus, and lotus for decoration is popular during Chhath Puja. These flowers bring a festive feel to the home.

4. Torans: Torans, made of mango leaves, flowers, and colorful beads, are hung at home entrances. They are an auspicious decoration for Chhath Puja.

5. String Lights: A modern decoration for Chhath Puja is string lights. They brighten up the puja space and the entrance of the house.

6. Banana and Mango Leaves: Banana and mango leaves are traditional decorations for Chhath Puja. They're used in the puja area and in making traditional sweets like Lai and Khajuria.

7. Temporary Altars: Setting up a temporary altar for the Sun God and ancestors shows devotion during Chhath Puja. Decorated with flowers, incense, and traditional symbols, these altars add a spiritual touch to the celebration.