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Spiritual Significance
Chhath Puja is one of the oldest Vedic festivals, dedicated to the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya. Over four days, devotees perform rigorous fasting and stand in rivers to offer arghya at both sunset and sunrise. The festival is unique for its ecological purity — no idols are used, and worship is offered directly to nature.
How to Celebrate in United Kingdom
Observing Chhath Puja in United Kingdom is highly auspicious. Because local timezone sunrise and moonrise times differ, follow these practices:
- Align Fasting with Local Sunrise: Start your vrat precisely at sunrise in London (approx 06:00 local time), rather than following Indian Standard Time.
- Perform Puja during local Auspicious Hours: Make sure to perform the main rituals during local GMT evening/night windows as shown above.
- Nahay Khay (ritual bath and one meal) on Day 1
- Kharna (fast from sunrise to moonrise) on Day 2
- Sandhya Arghya (sunset offerings) standing in water on Day 3
- Pratah Arghya (sunrise offerings) standing in water on Day 4
- Breaking fast with thekua and seasonal fruits
Auspicious Items to Prepare
🌸 Thekua🌸 Sugarcane stalks🌸 Seasonal fruits🌸 Earthen diyas🌸 Coconut