Today’s festivals

Regional variant: some communities observe Karva Chauth in Kartika Shukla

First day of Chhath Puja — purification bath in a holy river followed by one complete, pure meal. Marks the beginning of the rigorous four-day Sun (Chhathi Maiya / Surya) worship vow.

• Holy bath (Nahay)
• Single pure meal cooked in earthen pots (Khay)
• No onion, garlic or non-veg
• River-side prayers

Monthly Shukla Chaturthi Ganesha worship

• Ganesha puja
• Modak offering

Second day of Chhath Puja — all-day Nirjala (waterless) fast. At sunset devotees make kheer (rice pudding) with jaggery as prasad, offer it to the Sun, then eat briefly. The gruelling 36-hour waterless fast to Usha Arghya then begins.

• All-day Nirjala fast
• Evening kheer-banana prasad
• Sunset puja
• 36-hour waterless fast begins