Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted devotees on the second day of Chhath Puja, known as ‘Kharna’, and prayed for everyone’s well-being.
Devotees observe Kharna with a strict fast from sunrise to sunset, refraining from food and water until they offer prayers to the Sun God.
The day ends with the consumption of satvik prasad, usually jaggery-based kheer, which represents purification and spiritual discipline.
Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “Heartfelt greetings to all on the auspicious occasion of Chhath Parva’s Kharna Puja. Respectful salutations to all the devotees observing the fast! On this sacred occasion, which symbolises faith and restraint, there is a tradition of partaking in satvik prasad prepared with jaggery-based kheer. My wish is that on this ritual, Chhathi Maiya blesses everyone with her grace.”
To celebrate the festival’s cultural essence, the Prime Minister shared two devotional songs: Sukh leke ugayi, Dukh leke dubayi by Bihari singer Dinesh Lal Yadav ‘Nirahua’, and the Chhath Geet Sona Satkuniya Ho Dinanaath by Maithili Thakur.
Eating the prasad on Kharna begins the 36-hour waterless fast, which continues until the festival ends. The ritual, however, reflects self-restraint and spiritual cleansing.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister JP Nadda also sent greetings.
“The ‘Kharna’ holds utmost sacred significance in Chhath Puja. It is from ‘Kharna’ that the fast, worship, and adoration of Chhathi Maiya begins. May this sacred occasion become a means of welfare in the lives of all of you,” Shah posted on X.
JP Nadda prayed that Lord Surya Narayan and Chhathi Maiya grant happiness, prosperity, and good health to all devotees.
Chhath Puja, celebrated mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal, honours the Sun and expresses gratitude to nature. The festival, however, blends devotion, tradition, and community spirit.
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