How to celebrate chhath puja at home - Chhath Puja is one of the most sacred Hindu festivals dedicated to the worship of the Sun God (Surya Dev) and Chhathi Maiya, celebrated with deep devotion and purity. Traditionally observed on the banks of rivers or ponds, it symbolizes gratitude towards nature and the life-giving energy of the Sun.
How to celebrate chhath puja at home
However, even if you live in a city or away from your hometown, you can easily celebrate Chhath Puja at home with full faith and the right rituals. This guide explains how to celebrate Chhath Puja at home step-by-step, including the complete list of required items, powerful Sanskrit mantras with English transliteration, and practical tips to ensure a spiritually fulfilling celebration.
What is Chhath Puja & Why Celebrate at Home
Chhath Puja is a four-day Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya (the divine consort). It emphasises purity, gratitude, nature-connection, discipline and family bonding. Celebrating it at home is absolutely possible — with care, devotion and observance of rituals, you can perform the puja even if you are away from traditional ghats or water-bodies.
Required Items (पूजन सामग्री)
We must be having required items to celebrate chhath puja at home and its very important to keep a note and make sure you get ready with chhath puja items.
Here’s a checklist of items you’ll need to perform Chhath Puja at home:
- A clean, dedicated place (preferably near a water body or a symbolic water tray if at home)
- A “soop” (बाँस या पत्ते का ट्रे) or basket/tray to offer items
- Fresh seasonal fruits (e.g., banana, sugar-cane, coconut)
- “Thekua” (ठेकुआ) – the special sweet offering made from wheat flour, jaggery/gur, ghee.
- Sugar-cane sticks
- Rice, whole grains, raw sugar (gud)
- A lamp (दीप) and camphor (अगर किया जाता हो)
- Offerings for Surya: A copper or brass vessel filled with water (जल कुंभ)
- New (or clean) clothes for the devotee(s)
- A white/clean cloth (सफेद कपड़ा) for puja
- Flowers, vermilion (केसर), turmeric (हल्दी), raw rice (खिलौना चावल)
- Aarti plate (आरती थाली) with diya, incense (अगर आपने प्रयोग करना हो)
- A banana leaf or clean plate for arranging prasad
- Clean water body / bathtub / terrace space with water if near home (for Arghya)
Four-Day Ritual Flow (चौ-दिनीय विधि)
Here’s how the four days are typically observed, adapted for a home setting.
Day 1: “Nahay-Khay” (नहाय-खाय)
What you do: Early morning you take a bath (ideally in a clean river/pond, or home bath) to symbolically purify. Clean your home, especially the puja place. Then prepare a simple, satvik meal (without onion/garlic) using seasonal vegetables such as lauki (bottle-gourd) etc.
Home version tip: If you cannot access a river, take bath at home, set up a small water vessel and treat it with reverence.
Significance: Purification of body and mind, preparing for the fast and devotion.
Day 2: “Kharna” (खरना)
What you do: On the second day you observe a fast (many perform a somewhat strict fast) until evening. In the evening you prepare kheer (milk & rice & jaggery) and rotis/puris, offer them to Surya & Chhathi Maiya, then have the meal as prasad.
Home version tip: Prepare the prasad with devotion at home. Avoid meat, alcohol, non-vegetarian, onion/garlic and remain in a calm, pure state.
Significance: Discipline, sacrifice of bodily desires for purity and devotion.
Day 3: “Sandhya Arghya” (संध्या अर्घ्य)
What you do: In the evening, at the time of sunset, you offer “arghya” (water offering) to the setting Sun. Stand facing the Sun, ideally waist-deep in water (river/pond) or if at home, use a large vessel of water or balcony water symbolically. Arrange the soop/tray with fruits, thekua, sugar-cane and offer. Use the mantras (see below).
Home version tip: Use a clean large bowl of water on terrace/balcony or water-body if available. Light a lamp, arrange all items on the tray, face west (or where sun sets), and perform the offering at the correct time.
Significance: Gratitude to the Sun for life and energy, surrender, connection with nature.
Day 4: “Usha Arghya” (उषा अर्घ्य)
What you do: Early morning before sunrise you again offer arghya to the rising Sun. After the offering you break your fast and distribute prasad to family/friends.
Home version tip: Get up early, arrange tray, water vessel, fruits, thekua. Face the direction of the rising Sun (east). Perform mantras and offering, then share prasad.
Significance: Renewal, hope, new beginning, blessings for the family’s well‐being.
Mantras in Sanskrit/Hindi with Transliteration
Here are some key mantras you can chant during the arghya or general puja. (Please note: for complete traditional mantras consult a pandit as regional variations exist.)
- सूर्य बीज मंत्र (Surya Beej Mantra)
Sanskrit:
ॐ ह्रीं सूरय नमः।
Transliteration: Om Hreem Sūryāya Namah.
Meaning: Salutations to the Sun, invoking vitality and positive energy. - सूर्य साधना मंत्र / छठ पूजा मंत्र
Sanskrit:
ॐ ह्रीं ह्रीं सूरय सहस्रकीरणाय मनोवाञ्छित फलम् देहि देहि स्वाहा।
Transliteration: Om Hreem Hreem Sūryāya Sahasrakīraṇāya Manovāñchit Phalam Dehi Dehi Swāhā.
Meaning: To the Sun with a thousand rays, grant the desired result/magnitude, I offer this, Swaha. - सूर्य प्रणाम/गायत्री जोड़ के रूप में
Sanskrit:
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत् सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्।
Transliteration: Om Bhūr Bhuvah Svah /Tat Savitur Vareṇyam Bhargo Devasya Dhīmahi Dhiyo Yo Naḥ Prachodayāt.
Meaning: We meditate on that excellent glory of the divine Sun; may it inspire our intellect. - आराधना-प्रार्थना मंत्र
Sanskrit:
ॐ एहि सूर्य देव सहस्रांशो तेजो राशिः जगत्पते। अनुकम्पया माम् भक्त्या ग्रहणार्ध्यं दिवसः।
Transliteration: Om Ehi Sūrya Dev Sahasrāṃśo Tejo Rāśiḥ Jagatpate. Anukampayā Mām Bhaktyā Gṛhaṇārdhyaṃ Divasaḥ.
Meaning: Oh Lord Sun with thousands of rays and great brilliance, please accept with compassion this offering from my home with devotion.
Tips for chanting:
- Recite each mantra with calm, clear voice, ideally 3-11 times or as per your family tradition.
- Face the Sun (west at sunset, east at sunrise) while chanting.
- Maintain a clean mind, body and place while chanting.
- Hold the water vessel in your right hand (or as per custom) while offering arghya and chanting.
Final Words
Celebrating Chhath Puja at home is a beautiful way to honour the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya with devotion and purity — even if you’re not on a river-bank. What matters most is your sincerity, cleanliness (of body, mind and space), devotion and gratitude. Use the above items, follow the four-day flow, chant the mantras with heart, and make your home puja meaningful.
May your home become luminous with the light of devotion, your family blessed with health and peace, and may the Sun God accept your heartfelt arghya. Happy Chhath Puja!
