Chhat Puja (Pratihar Sashthi/Surya Sashthi) in India ― Date, History, and Details
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History of Chhat Puja (Pratihar Sashthi/Surya Sashthi) in India and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
Chhat Puja is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Nepal. It is observed on the sixth day of the month of Kartik (November-December) and marks the end of the four-month long Chaturmas period. The festival is dedicated to the sun god Surya and is observed by fasting and offering prayers to the deity.
The word ‘Chhat’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘chatur’ meaning ‘four’. The festival is so named as it falls on the sixth day of the month of Kartik which is the fourth month of the Hindu lunar calendar.
The main event of the festival is the puja or worship of the sun god Surya. Devotees observe a fast on this day and offer prayers and sacrifices to the deity. They also take a holy dip in rivers and lakes.
The festival has great significance for the farmers as it is believed that the sun god blesses them with a good harvest. In some parts of India, the festival is also known as Surya Sashti or Pratihar Sashti and is celebrated with much fanfare.