Chhath Puja or Dala Chhath is dedicated to Lord Surya or the Sun God.

Chhath Puja or Dala Chhath is dedicated to Lord Surya or the Sun God. It is an important festival celebrated in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, some parts of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, Assam and Terai region of Nepal. It is also celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana, Fiji, Suriname and Mauritius mainly among the Bhojpuri and Maithali speaking communities. In India the best place to witness Chhath Puja is the Northern region of Bihar where it is celebrated with great gusto. The festival is observed since times immemorial with fervent faith that the Sun God fulfills wishes if 'araghya' is offered with complete dedication. Along with the Sun God people worship Chhathi Maiya or Usha, the consort of lord Surya on this day.

[NOTE: If the couples who have no child fast for Chhathi Maiya or Usha, the consort of lord Surya on this day are blessed with Children by Chhathi Maiya (Mother).]

♥***The Rig-Veda holds Surya, the sun-god, in highest reverence for unless there was light even the manifest does not manifest

लोहितं रथमारूढं सर्वलोकपितामहम् ।
महापापहरं देवं तं सूर्यं प्रणमाम्यहम् ॥

Salutations to Shri Suryadeva, You are Reddish in colour, and mounted on a Chariot; You are the Grandfather of all persons (being the Adideva, the first God),
You are the Deva Who removes great Sins from our minds (by Your Illumination); I Salute You, O Suryadeva.

♥ Legend or the origin of Chhat Puja or Dala Chhat or Surya Sashti Vrat (fast) is associated with Ramayana & Mahabharata epic ♥

1) Chhat Pooja or Surya Sashti Vrat was started by Lord Ram who was born in the clan of Suryavansh in Tretayug. Lord Rama and Mata Sita had kept fast and offer puja to the LordSun in the month of Kartik in Shukla Paksh during their coronation after returning to the Ayodhya after 14 years of exile.

2) King Karna used observe Chhat Pooja to give is obedience’s to his father SUN (Surya). The son of Surya, who was renowned warrior and well-known for his nature of charity. Since Karna became a popular & powerful King by observing Surya Puja, Hindus also worship Surya dev for courage, fame, health, wealth and prosperity.

3) Draupadi worshipped the sun god with great devotion therefore she was blessed by the divine energy of Lord Surya which made her capable of curing any severe disease.

One day while Pandavas were in exile there visited eighty eight thousand wandering hermits. According to the Hindu custom of "atithi devo bhavah", guests are treated with great warmth and respect. Since Pandavas barely had enough for themselves so they were not in a position to fulfill their obligation and offer meals to the pious souls. It was Draupadi who requested the noble sage Dhaumya for help, who in turn blessed her because of her sincere devotion towards Lord Surya. Thereafter, Draupadi was not only able to solve the immediate problem but her sincere devotion towards Lord Surya helped the Pandavas in regaining their lost Kingdom.

4) International Significance of Chhath Puja:
The tradition of worshiping Sun God, the sustainer of life on earth was also prevalent in the Egyptian and Babylonian civilizations of the world.

♥***Chhath Puja Dates
 Friday, 4th of November 2016 is the day of bath and eat.
On the first day, devotees take bathe early in the morning in the holy water of Gange and bring some water to their home to prepare the offerings. The home and its surroundings should be cleaned at this day. They take only one meal a day known as kaddu-bhat cooked only by using the bronze or soil utensils and mango woods over the soil stove.
 Saturday, 5th of November 2016 is the day of fast which ends after sunset after the 36 hour long fast.
On the second day (the day before Chhath), Panchami, devotees keeps fast for whole day and break their fast in the evening after sunset after the worship of Sun. They offer Rasiao-kheer, puris, fruits in the puja. After taking meal in the evening, they go on a fast without water for the next 36 hours.
 Sunday, 6th of November 2016 is the day of Sandhya Argh known as the evening offerings.
On the third day (day of Chhath) they offer the Sanjhiya Arghya at the ghat of riverbank. After Arghya, they wear the single saree of turmeric color. Other family members are waiting for getting the blessings from worshiper. At the night of Chhath a vibrant event of Kosi is celebrated by lighting the lamps of clay diyas under the covering of five sugarcane sticks. The five sugarcane sticks indicate the Panchatattva (earth, water, fire, air and space) that human body made of Panchatattva.
 Monday, 7th of November 2016 is the day of Suryodaya Argh and the Paran or breaking of the fast.
On the early morning of the fourth day (Paarun), devotees along with their family and friends offer Bihaniya Aragh at the ghat of riverbank of Gange. Devotees end their festival through breaking the fast by having the Chhath prashad.

♥***Chhath Puja Katha
A long year ago, there was a king named, Priyavrat and his wife Malini. They were living very happily but there was a big unhappiness in their life as they have no child. They decided to make a big Yagya by the help of Maharishi Kashyap in order to be blessed with a child. His wife became pregnant because of the effect of Yagya. But she had given birth to a dead child after nine months. King was very sad and decided to suicide. Suddenly, there came a Goddess in front of him while suicide. Goddess said that, I am a Goddess Khashti, if someone would offer puja to me with pure mind and soul, he would definitely get a child. The king, Priyavrat did the same and blessed with a very beautiful and cute child. Since then, people started celebrating the chhath puja.

♥***Stages of Siddhis a Devotee gains in Chhath Puja

 The belief of fast and cleanliness of body on the festival identify the detoxification of the body and mind in order to set up the body and mind to accept the cosmic solar energy.
 Standing in water with half of the body inside the water diminishes the escape of energy as well as facilitates the prana to elevate to the sushumna.
 Then the entrance of cosmic solar energy takes place in the pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus glands (known as the Triveni complex) by the retina and optic nerves.
 In the 4th stage Triveni complex gets activated.
 After activation of the Triveni complex, spine gets polarized and body of devotee gets transformed into a cosmic powerhouse and gets the Kundalini Shakti.
 At this stage the devotee is fully able to conduct, recycle and pass on the energy into entire universe.

Chhath puja is the festival of truth, non-violence, forgiveness and compassion.
Chhath puja is a festival of reverence to the solar deity. Unlike Holi or Diwali, Chhath puja is a festival of prayer and appeasement observed with somberness, a festival that should not be missed. Chhath puja is held in high esteem and regard.

♥***Chhath is the only time when the setting sun as opposed to its rising is celebrated for its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death. After sunset, the devotees return home where celebration takes place by singing hymns while devotees maintaining a strict fast without even water for 3 days. Such is the faith in the “Chhath Maiya” as popularly called.

On the morning of the final day of chhath puja, the journey towards the Ganges starts before sunrise and the sun welcomed with folded hands. Offerings include sandalwood, vermilion, rice, fruits, covered usually covered with saffron colored cotton cloth. They offer ‘Arghya’ and chant mantras and hymns from the Rig Veda and commence the puja. The devotees break the fast. Prasad is distributed. According to belief if you beg for the Prasad all wishes will come true.