The lone festival in whichboth rising and setting sun is worshipped, showing what has risen will set ,and what has set will rise.
Chhath is not a festival it’san emotion for many people. Peopleworship sun for the four days, which begins this year on November 8 and endsNovember 11. The states which religiously observe the rituals are Bihar, Jharkhandand Uttar Pradesh, and also Madhesh, the southern region of Nepal.
Interestingly, Chhath is mentioned in bothRamayana and Mahabharata, two of the most important Hindu epics. In Ramayana,Goddess Sita performed the puja on the day Ram-Rajya the kingdom of Lord Ramwas established, and in Mahabharata, it was performed by Pandava-mother Kuntiafter they escaped from Lakshagrih, the palace made of lacquer, which was burntto the ground.
Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu Vedicfestival which isdedicated to the solar deityLord Surya and his sister Shashthi Devi (Chhathi Maiya). Devotees usually thankthem for their bestowment — that of life on Earth. The first day of the festival is known as Nahay Khay.People take a holy dip in a water body.
Women, who do the puja, have only asingle meal.The second day is known as Kharna. On this day, people fast withoutwater from sunrise to sunset. The fast is broken after sunset.Another full-dayfast, without water, is observed on the third day, which is the main day ofChhath Puja.
Offering arghya to the setting sun is the main ritual. Fastingcontinues throughout the night.On the fourth and final day, arghya is given tothe rising sun, and it is called Usha Arghya.