The day of Kharna is considered extremely important during the four days of the Chhath festival. It falls on the second day of the festival, which is celebrated on the fifth day of the Kartik Shukla lunar month. On this day, fast observers observe a fast from the morning. After sunset, a ritual worship of the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya takes place. During this ritual, offerings of rice porridge made with palm jaggery, bread, and fruits are prepared. After the worship concludes, the fast observers first accept the offering, after which the most difficult stage of Chhath—the waterless fast—begins, lasting about 36 hours. According to beliefs, observing certain rules during Kharna Puja helps maintain the favor of Chhathi Maiya. Therefore, it is important to know what should be done and what mistakes should be avoided on this day.
Kharna Puja Rules: What to Do and What to Avoid
What to do during Kharna Puja?
On the day of Kharna, one must thoroughly clean the house and the place where the ritual will be held. Since cleanliness is of great importance in Chhath Puja, special attention should be paid to the area where offerings are prepared and worship takes place.
Worship should be performed after taking a bath. Fast observers need to take a shower in the morning, wear clean clothes, and observe the fasting rules throughout the day. In the evening, it is also recommended to take a shower before preparing for the worship.
The preparation of offerings should be done on an earthen stove. Traditionally, rice porridge and bread are cooked with palm jaggery, and in many places, this is done on an earthen stove using mango wood. Great attention must be paid to the cleanliness and sanctity while cooking.
In the evening, worship should be offered to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. After the daytime fast, one should take a bath, wear clean clothes, light a lamp, and perform the ritual worship of the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. Offerings in the worship should include porridge, bread, and seasonal fruits. After the ritual is completed, the fast observers accept the Kharna offering and then share it among family members, relatives, and neighbors.
It is important to maintain a calm mind. During Kharna Puja, one should keep good thoughts in mind, meditate on God, and avoid unnecessary arguments or quarrels. It is believed that the worship on this day should take place in an atmosphere of peace and reverence.
What to avoid during Kharna Puja?
One must monitor the cleanliness around the offering preparation area. Food should not be cooked in dirty utensils or in an unclean place. The area where food is prepared must remain clean.
One should refrain from tasting the offering. Since the Kharna offering is prepared for the worship of Chhathi Maiya, tradition dictates that it cannot be tasted during preparation. It should only be accepted after it has been offered as a gift.
One must not be careless in observing the fasting rules. On the day of Kharna, fast observers observe a waterless fast from morning till evening. Although in case of health problems one should not force oneself into a waterless fast, the fasting rules must still be observed.
During worship, anger and arguments should be avoided. Mental purity is also considered important in Chhath Puja, so on the day of Kharna, one should avoid quarrels, using harsh words, and anger towards anyone.
Disrespecting the offering should not occur. The Kharna offering is considered extremely sacred. It should be accepted with reverence and respect. Belief holds that discarding or disrespecting the offering is inauspicious, as it may cause displeasure to Chhathi Maiya. Therefore, it should be distributed respectfully among family members and others.
The 36-hour fast begins after Kharna
After performing Kharna Puja and accepting the offering, the Chhath fast observers begin a waterless fast lasting about 36 hours. During this time, they consume neither food nor water. On the third day in the evening, an offering is made to the setting sun. The fast concludes the next day after making an offering to the rising sun.
