Chhath Puja 2024: What Is Kharna Or Lohanda? Significance, Rituals And Muhurat – News18
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The second day of Chhath Puja is called ‘Kharna’. Devotees observe a strict fast from morning until evening. They prepare dishes like kheer to offer as Prasad to Surya Dev.
Kharna (Lohanda) will be celebrated on November 6, 2024. (Image: Shutterstock)
Chhath Puja, a four-day Hindu festival, is celebrated to honor Lord Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya. This festival, observed predominantly in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha, involves devotees fasting and performing rituals to seek blessings for longevity, prosperity, and good health for their families.
Chhathi Maiya, regarded as the sister of Surya and daughter of Brahma, is believed to bestow health and longevity upon children when honoured by devotees.
The festival begins with “Nahay Khay,” a day of cleansing, where devotees prepare for the fast with a simple meal.
This is followed by “Kharna,” where devotees fast the entire day and break it only after sunset with offerings. This year Kharna will be celebrated on November 6, 2024. Sunrise is scheduled for 06:37 AM, and sunset is scheduled for 05:32 PM.
The main rituals include “Sandhya Arghya” (evening offerings) and “Usha Arghya” (morning offerings to the rising sun), performed by standing in water to offer prayers.
In 2024, Chhath Puja falls from November 5 to November 8, with the primary offerings occurring on November 7 and 8.
What Is Kharna Or Lohanda?
On the second day of Chhath Puja, devotees, known as vratis, observe the ritual of Kharna or Lohanda, which involves a rigorous daylong fast without food or water from sunrise to sunset.
This fast is considered a purifying step, as vratis pray for blessings of health and prosperity from the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya.
As part of the Kharna ritual, a special offering called Rasiya Kheer is prepared, a rice pudding made with ghee, jaggery (known as gud), and arwa chawal (a type of raw rice).
ALSO READ: Chhath Puja Calendar 2024: Day-Wise Schedule, Muhurat, And Sunrise, Sunset Timings
After the sunset, the fast is broken by consuming Rasiya Kheer, which is first offered as prasad to Chhathi Maiya and Surya Devta, and then shared with family members as part of the observance.
This offering represents devotion and gratitude and is a cherished tradition of the Chhath Puja festivities.
Chhath Puja 2024: What Is Kharna Or Lohanda?
After a day of nirjala fasting, a solitary supper of Rasiya kheer and roti or puri is consumed by devotees on Kharna or Lohanda, the second day of the Chhath Puja celebration, after sunset.
Women who observe the fast on Kharna get up early and prepare for the festival’s next two days by gathering fruits such as Daab Nimbu (sweet lime), Ganna (sugar cane), Sharifa (custard apple), and Singhara (water chestnut) to be offered to Chhathi Maiyya and Sun God.
They do this after taking a bath.
Rasiya kheer and roti, the final meal before the 36-hour fast, are consumed by Vratis in the evening following the puja. The fasting period, also called Lohanda, lasts eight to twelve hours.
Shubh Muhurat For Day 2 of Chhath
- Sunrise: 6:37 AM
- Sunset: 5:32 PM
After sunset, the fast on Kharna can be broken.
Sandhya Arghya (November 7) and Usha Arghya (November 8) are the final two days of Chhath Puja after Kharna, when arghya is offered to the setting and rising suns, respectively. During this phase, women go 36 hours without eating or drinking. Following the arghya in the morning, Chhath Puja comes to an end.
Chhath Puja 2024 (Day 2): Rituals
Kharna (Lohanda) is celebrated on the second day.
Families participating in Chhath Vratis are required to take a bath every day because the celebration adheres to the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
Devotees follow a full-day fast and concentrate on maintaining both internal and exterior cleanliness on the auspicious day. After worshipping the sun god in the sunset, devotees call it a day.
Throughout the day, devotees practice a rigorous fast, not even drinking water (nirjala vrat). They spend the day preparing the kharna, or evening offering.
Rituals state that the deity is offered Kharna (jaggery, rice and milk pudding), fruits and chapati (whole wheat bread) before it is shared with family and neighbours.
The devotee fasts for 36 hours after the evening meal, going without food or water until the fourth day’s daybreak. After eating the prasad on the second day, the third day of fasting starts.
Chhath Puja 2024 (Day 2): Significance
Kharna, also called Lohana, is particularly important during the Chhath celebration. Purification is what kharna means.
On the first day, Nahay Khay, bathing and eating are said to cleanse the body; on the second day, Kharna, the focus is thought to be on cleaning the soul and mind.
Vratis do a strenuous nirjala vrat on this day, which lasts from sunrise to sunset without drinking any water. In the evening, they pray to Chhatthi Maiya. In the evening, however, Vratis break their fast by eating Kharna prasad, which is Kheer composed of arwa chawal and jaggery (gud).
