Reasons for Silence During the Acceptance of Harana Prasad as Part of the Chhath Puja 2026 Festival

Chhath Mahaparv, which lasts for four days, involves observing various religious traditions, and each day holds its own significance. During this festival, devotees perform worship while maintaining purity and self-control. On the third day, they offer oblations to the setting sun, and the fourth day concludes with worship of the rising sun.

Chhath Puja is a festival of gratitude to nature, piety, and asceticism, during which the deities of the Sun and Chhathi Maiya are revered. This rigorous fast, lasting four days, requires devotees to follow specific rules. The festival, starting with Nahay Khay and ending with Usha Arghya, includes daily rituals, and during this time, devotees observe a complete waterless fast for about 36 hours. This year, Chhath Parv will be celebrated from November 13th to November 16th.

A series of religious traditions are observed during Chhath Mahaparv over four days, and each day has its importance. Devotees perform their worship while maintaining cleanliness and self-restraint. On the third day, they offer an offering to the setting sun, and on the fourth day, the fast concludes with worship of the rising sun.

On Kartik Shukla Shashti, devotees arrive at rivers, ponds, or other water bodies in the evening. There, they offer an oblation to the Sun deity, decorating a bamboo basket with fruits, theekua, coconuts, sugarcane, and other items for worship. The next day, on Kartik Shukla Saptami, they offer an oblation to the rising sun in the morning. After this, the devotees perform Paran and end their waterless fast.

Friday, November 13th — Nahay Khay

Chhath Mahaparv begins with Nahay Khay. On this day, after bathing in the morning, devotees clean their homes and prepare sattvic food. Typically, they prepare rice, lentil dal, and a pumpkin vegetable dish. The meal marks the beginning of observing the strict rules of Chhath.

Saturday, November 14th — Harna

The second day of Chhath Puja is observed as Harna. On this day, devotees fast from morning till evening. After sunset, they perform worship and consume prasad made of rice porridge with palm sugar and bread. Following this, the waterless fast of about 36 hours begins, during which both food and water are abstained from.

Sunday, November 15th — Sandhya Arghya

The third day of Chhath Mahaparv is considered one of the most important rituals. On this day, devotees arrive at a river, pond, or Chhath Ghat in the evening and offer an oblation to the setting sun. A bamboo basket is filled with seasonal fruits, theekua, coconuts, sugarcane, and other offerings. Praying to the deities of the Sun and Chhathi Maiya, they wish well-being for their families and happiness for their descendants.

Monday, November 16th — Usha Arghya and Paran

On the last day of Chhath Mahaparv, devotees arrive at the Ghat before sunrise. The worship concludes with an offering to the rising sun. After this, they wish health, peace, and longevity for their family's descendants. After Usha Arghya, the devotees perform Paran, and their waterless fast, which lasted about 36 hours, concludes. Thus, the four-day Chhath Mahaparv comes to an end.

In Hinduism, the fast of sixteen Mondays (Solah Somwar Vrat) is observed in honor of worshipping the god Shiva. It is believed that regularly observing this fast for 16 weeks can lead to the fulfillment of desires. Many people adhere to this fast hoping to achieve a happy family life and have children, as well as overcome life's difficulties. There is also a mythological story associated with this fast that reveals its significance.

The story tells of how once the gods Shiva and Parvati went for a walk on Earth and reached a place called Amavratti. There they stopped at a beautiful temple of Shiva. One day, Parvati suggested playing the game Chosar with Shiva. Before starting the game, she asked the temple priest who would win. The priest, without hesitation, named Shiva.

However, Parvati won the game. Angered by the priest's incorrect prediction, she cursed him with leprosy. Shiva tried to appease Parvati, but she did not yield. After this, the priest contracted leprosy, and his life was filled with adversity.

Some time later, several apsaras came to the same temple to worship. They saw the priest in a dejected state and asked him about the reason for his suffering. The priest told them his entire story. Hearing this, the apsaras advised him to observe the fast of sixteen Mondays. They explained that if this fast is performed with a sincere heart, Lord Shiva will be pleased, and his blessings can help fulfill the wishes of the devotees.

Afterward, the apsaras instructed the priest on how to observe the fast correctly. He was told to bathe and wear clean clothes every morning, and to worship Shiva in the evening. After worship, he needed to prepare an offering of wheat flour: part was given to Shiva, and the rest was shared among the people. This process should continue for 16 Mondays. Upon completion of the sixteenth Monday, on the seventeenth, churma made from wheat, ghee, and maple syrup should be prepared, offered to Shiva, and then distributed to everyone.

The priest followed the apsaras' advice and observed the fast for 16 Mondays, sincerely worshipping Shiva. Soon, thanks to Shiva's grace, his illness receded. One day, Shiva and Parvati came to that temple again and were amazed by the priest's health. When they asked the reason for his recovery, the priest stated that it was due to the fast of sixteen Mondays.

Hearing this, Parvati also decided to observe the fast of sixteen Mondays. She wished for her son Kartikeya to love her again as before. According to beliefs, the influence of the fast changed Kartikeya's mood, and a feeling of love and respect for his mother was rekindled in his heart.

Learning about the fast of sixteen Mondays from his mother, Kartikeya also decided to observe it. He wanted to meet his old friend whom he hadn't seen in a long time. After completing the fast, thanks to Shiva's grace, his wish was fulfilled. Then Kartikeya told his Brahmin friend about the fast. Hearing this, the Brahmin began the fast of sixteen Mondays in hope of marriage. Soon he arrived in a kingdom where a samvarvar (bride competition) was taking place. At the competition, the princess chose this Brahmin as her husband, and they married.

After the wedding, the princess wanted to have children. To this end, she worshipped Shiva and began the fast of sixteen Mondays. According to beliefs, hearing her prayers, Shiva granted her wish, and soon she gave birth to a son. When the boy grew up, he decided to become a king and began the fast of sixteen Mondays. Shiva was pleased with his devotion and granted his wish. Soon he married the daughter of a king who had no brothers or sisters. After the king's death, this young man became the ruler of that kingdom.

According to this story, on the seventeenth Monday, the king asked the queen to visit Shiva's temple for worship, but the queen herself did not go, only sending items for the ritual. At that moment, a heavenly voice sounded, warning that if the queen remained in the palace, a great calamity would befall the kingdom. After this, the queen had to leave the palace.

Wherever the queen went after leaving the palace, problems arose. Distressed, she approached a saint and told him her entire story. The saint advised the queen to observe the fast of sixteen Mondays. The queen agreed and began the fast with complete devotion. According to beliefs, thanks to the influence of this fast, the king learned the whereabouts of his wife and brought her back to the palace. After this, they lived together and worshipped Shiva. The story says that at the end of their lives, thanks to Shiva's grace, they attained liberation (moksha).

Therefore, the fast of sixteen Mondays is considered special. Religious beliefs state that a devotee who observes this fast with a pure heart enjoys Shiva's favor. Furthermore, Bholenath fulfills the wishes of his followers and removes their life hardships.