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Spiritual Significance
Chhath Puja is one of the oldest Vedic festivals, dedicated to the Sun God (Surya) and his wife Usha (Chhathi Maiya). It is a four-day rigorous celebration where devotees stand waist-deep in rivers and offer arghya (water oblations) at both sunset and sunrise. The festival is remarkable for its complete ecological consciousness — no idols are used, and worship is offered directly to nature, specifically to the sun and water.
How to Celebrate in United States
Observing Chhath Puja in United States is highly auspicious. Because local timezone sunrise and moonrise times differ, follow these practices:
- Align Fasting with Local Sunrise: Start your vrat precisely at sunrise in New York (approx 06:00 local time), rather than following Indian Standard Time.
- Perform Puja during local Auspicious Hours: Make sure to perform the main rituals during local EST evening/night windows as shown above.
- Nahay Khay (ritual bath and one meal) on the first day
- Kharna (fasting from sunrise to after moonrise on 2nd night)
- Standing in water at sunset to offer Sandhya Arghya
- Standing in water before sunrise to offer Pratah Arghya
- Breaking fast with offerings of thekua, seasonal fruits
Auspicious Items to Prepare
🌸 Thekua (wheat and jaggery cookies)🌸 Sugarcane stalks🌸 Seasonal fruits🌸 Earthen diyas🌸 Coconut