The first day of Chhath Puja, known as Nahai Khai, marks the commencement of the festival. Devotees take a ritualistic bath in the sacred waters of a river or pond, symbolizing purification and cleansing. The bath is followed by a grand feast, marking the commencement of the fast that will continue for the next two days.
On the second day, called Lohanda, devotees prepare for the main offering to the Sun God. They gather the necessary materials, including sugarcane, bananas, fruits, and homemade prasad, to be offered during the puja.
The third day, Sandhya Arghya, is dedicated to offering prayers to the setting Sun. Devotees gather on the banks of the river, creating elaborate pandals adorned with flowers and clay lamps. They stand in waist-deep water, facing the setting sun, and offer prayers and offerings, seeking blessings for prosperity, health, and well-being.
The final day, Usha Arghya, marks the culmination of the festival. Devotees rise before dawn and head to the riverbanks, where they offer prayers and arghya (offerings) to the rising Sun. The atmosphere is filled with chants, devotional songs, and the shimmering lights of clay lamps illuminating the river's surface
he main ritual of Chhath Puja is the offering of arghya, which is a mixture of water, milk, honey, and ghee, to the setting and rising sun. The offerings are made on two platforms called shila and chhata, which are decorated with flowers, fruits, and diyas (earthen lamps).