Spend the second day, know the fast and the unique method behind it:

News India Live, Digital Desk: The holy festival of Chhath Puja, which is a symbol of devotion and rigorous penance, lasts for four days. Among these four days, the second day is ‘Kharna’, which has a very special significance in Hindu religion. This year in Chhath Puja 2025, Kharna will be celebrated on Tuesday, 28 October. This is the day when devotees get completely immersed in the colors of Chhath Mahaparva and its strict rules begin.

What happens on the day of Kharna?

The day of Kharna is actually a day to prepare the body and mind before ‘Nirjala Vrat’ (without water). On this day, Vrati (those who fast) observe fast throughout the day, but they can drink water. After worshiping the Sun God in the evening, special prasad is prepared, which is called ‘Jaggery-rice kheer’ or ‘Rasiya’ and roti. This prasad is prepared with great precision on cow dung cakes or mango wood flame.

Importance of Kharna:

According to religious belief, Chhathi Maiya is worshiped on the day of Kharna Puja, who is considered the goddess who blesses children with long life and happiness and prosperity. This day symbolizes purifying the body from within and preparing it for the further Nirjala fast. Consuming jaggery kheer on this day is believed to bring a special purity to the mind and body, which helps in completing the subsequent fast.

Kharna puja method:

1. Fast and evening worship: On the day of Kharna, the devotees wake up early in the morning, take bath etc., wear clean clothes and keep fast throughout the day. In the evening they worship Sun God.
2. Making Prasad: After the puja, jaggery and rice kheer is made on the stove over the flame of mango wood or cow dung cakes. Besides, roti or puri is also prepared from wheat flour. Special care is taken of purity in all this.
3. Bhog and eclipse: First of all this Prasad is offered to Chhathi Maiya. After that, the fasting person consumes this kheer and roti. This is the first and last meal that the devotee eats before the two-day rigorous Nirjala fast.
4. Nistar: After the fasting person has his meal, other members of the household and the devotees taking the prasad consume it. This ritual is called ‘Nistar’. From this day till the evening Arghya the next day, the fasting people give up both food and water.

Thus, the day of Kharna is an important part of Chhath Mahaparva, which purifies the mind and body for the upcoming rigorous fast.