When is Lalahi Chhath 2023?
Lalahi Chhath 2023 will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. The festival begins on the evening of September 4 with the nahay khay ritual, in which women take a bath and then eat a special meal. The next day, on September 5, women fast and pray for the well-being of their families. In the evening, they offer prayers to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, the goddess of childbirth.
What is the significance of Lalahi Chhath?
Lalahi Chhath is a festival of fertility and abundance. It is believed that the prayers offered on this day are especially powerful and that they can help to ensure the long life and prosperity of one's family. The festival is also a time for women to come together and celebrate their strength and resilience.
How is Lalahi Chhath celebrated?
Lalahi Chhath is a two-day festival. On the first day, the devotees wake up early in the morning and take a bath. They then prepare a special puja thali, which includes offerings to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. The thali is then offered to the rising sun. In the evening, the devotees gather together for a feast.
On the second day, the devotees wake up early in the morning and take another bath. They then offer prayers to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. The prayers are offered at both sunrise and sunset. In the evening, the devotees break their fast and celebrate the festival with a feast.
What are the rituals of Lalahi Chhath?
The rituals of Lalahi Chhath vary from region to region, but there are some common elements. The most important ritual is the offering of prayers to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. This is usually done at a river or pond, where women gather to bathe and then offer prayers. The prayers are typically accompanied by songs and hymns.
Another important ritual is the arghya, which is an offering of water, milk, and flowers to the Sun God. The arghya is usually offered at sunrise and sunset.
What are the customs of Lalahi Chhath?
There are many customs associated with Lalahi Chhath, but some of the most common include:
- Fasting:
- Women who observe Lalahi Chhath fast for the entire day.
- Grains produced as a result of ploughing (use of Hal) the ground is not eaten on the day.
- Milk of buffalo is used on the day.
- Another highlight of the festival is the use of Mahua Twig to brush the teeth on the day.
- Wearing red clothes: Women who observe Lalahi Chhath typically wear red clothes. Red is considered to be an auspicious color, and it is believed to bring good luck.
- Applying sindoor: Sindoor is a red powder that is applied to the parting of the hair by married women. It is a symbol of marriage and fertility.
- Offering prayers:
- Branches of Kash, Palash, and Jharberi are worshipped on the day.
- An offering of seven grains are also made – wheat, rice, maize, gram, moong, arhar and jawar.
- Lalhi Chhath Vrat katha or story associated with the ritual is listened to on the day.