Chhath Puja

Surya

Honoured alongside: Chhathi Maiya · Usha · Pratyusha

The Sun — and uniquely, the setting sun is offered arghya before the rising one. Chhathi Maiya, understood as Surya's sister, is worshipped alongside him. There is no priest and no image; the water and the sun are the shrine.

What the puja consists of

1. Nahay Khay — bathe in a river and eat one sattvik meal, beginning four days of purity.
2. Kharna — a day-long fast broken at dusk with kheer and roti, after which a nirjala fast begins.
3. Sandhya Arghya — stand in water at sunset and offer to the setting sun with a soop of thekua, fruit and sugarcane.
4. Usha Arghya — return before dawn and offer to the rising sun; the fast breaks after this.
5. Folk songs are sung through all four days, largely by the women keeping the vrat.

Core chants

Named, not printed — each links to a recording where the catalogue has one.

1. Mantra

   Om Suryaya Namahॐ सूर्याय नमः

   Recited while offering arghya, facing the sun.

   Not in the catalogue yet — ask at your local temple or gurdwara, or learn it from a teacher in your tradition.

2. Mantra

   Gayatri Mantraगायत्री मन्त्र

   The Vedic verse to Savitr, chanted at both arghyas.

   Powerful Morning Mantras — Ganesh, Shiva, Hanuman & Gayatri50:35Morning Mantras — Ganesh, Gayatri, Shiva, Hanuman & Lakshmi53:35
3. Stotra

   Aditya Hridayamआदित्य हृदयम्

   The hymn Agastya gave Rama before battle, recited by those who keep it.

   Not in the catalogue yet — ask at your local temple or gurdwara, or learn it from a teacher in your tradition.

4. Kirtan

   Chhath geet (Kelwa Ke Paat Par and others)

   Bhojpuri folk songs — not mantras, but the actual sound of the festival.

   Not in the catalogue yet — ask at your local temple or gurdwara, or learn it from a teacher in your tradition.