Chhath is one of the most celebrated festivals in North India especially in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar region and parts of Nepal. The festival spans four days, with each day marked by specific rituals and prayers. The second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna which holds an immense significance as it marks a crucial step in the preparation for the grand offerings to Sun God.
Kharna
The second day of Chhath Puja is called Kharna, which is observed on the fourth day after Diwali. On this day, devotees fast from sunrise to sunset and perform rituals to purify themselves and seek blessings for health, wealth, and prosperity. The primary objective of Kharna is to prepare for the offerings that will be made to the Sun God on the following days.
Rituals of Kharna
Fasting and Preparing Prasadam: Devotees begin the day with a strict fast that lasts from morning until sunset. This fast is observed without consuming water or food, which symbolizes devotion and self-discipline. After sunset, the fasting individuals break their fast with a special meal called Kharna ka Prasadam.
Preparation of Kharna Prasadam
The Kharna Prasadam includes kheer (a sweet dish made of rice, milk, and jaggery), roti (flatbread), and thekua (a sweet, fried snack made from wheat flour, jaggery, and coconut). The food items are prepared in earthen pots, symbolizing purity and the natural elements. The offerings are then distributed among family members, neighbors and relatives.
Puja and Offerings
After the preparation of the Prasadam, the family gathers around the puja area, which is often an open space or in a courtyard, and begins a small puja. The offerings of food are placed before a picture or idol of Lord Surya (the Sun God). The prayer usually involves chanting mantras, asking for blessings of health, happiness, and prosperity for the coming year.
Spiritual Significance of Kharna
The second day of Chhath Puja holds deep spiritual significance. It is considered a day to purify the body and soul before the major rituals of the third and fourth days. By observing the fast and performing the rituals, devotees believe they can attain spiritual strength, and it is also said that by offering gratitude to the Sun God, they seek to remove obstacles from their lives.
The fasting on Kharna is not only a physical act of restraint but also symbolizes the devotion and discipline that devotees believe is required to receive the Sun God’s blessings. The act of offering food to the Sun God is symbolic of offering one’s gratitude for sustenance and life.