How to do Chhathi puja for newborn baby - Chhathi Puja, also known as Chhathi or Shashthi Puja, is a sacred Hindu ritual performed on the sixth day after a baby’s birth to seek the blessings of Goddess Shashthi (Chhathi Maiya) — the divine protector of children.
How to do Chhathi puja for newborn baby
This beautiful ceremony symbolizes the formal welcome of the newborn into the family and marks the beginning of their spiritual journey. Families celebrate this day with devotion, offering prayers, lamps, sweets, and new clothes to invoke good health, long life, and prosperity for the baby.
In this article, you’ll learn how to perform Chhathi Puja at home step-by-step, the complete list of required items, and the significance of each ritual, making it a perfect guide for new parents preparing for this auspicious occasion.
What is Chhathi Puja for Newborn baby & Why It’s Done
Before discussing How to do Chhathi Puja (or Chhatti / Shashthi Pooja) for a Newborn Baby, lets understand what is Chhathi Puja.
Chhathi Puja (also known as Chhatti or Shashthi Puja) is a sacred ritual performed on the 6th day after the birth of a baby, dedicated to the goddess Shashthi Devi (also called Chhathi Maiya), who is believed to protect children and bless them with health, longevity and virtue.
By celebrating this at home with devotion, you invite divine blessings for the child’s future well‐being, and mark the arrival of the new soul into the family with ritual significance.
Required Items (पूजन सामग्री) for baby’s Chhathi Puja / Shashthi Puja
Before discussing How to do Chhathi puja for a newborn baby, let's discuss required items for baby’s Chhathi Puja / Shashthi Puja. Here is a checklist of items you’ll need to prepare for the Chhathi Puja for a newborn baby:
- A clean, auspicious space in the home (puja room or designated area)
- New clothes for the baby (shirt/kurta and bottoms for baby boy; dress and bangles for baby girl)
- New baby blanket / cap / bonnet / socks (optional but recommended)
- A lamp (दीप) or diya, with ghee or oil wick
- Incense sticks (agarbatti) and flowers
- Red pen and a plain sheet of white paper (to symbolically “write” the newborn’s destiny)
- A small wooden plank or flat surface (to place the paper & pen)
- A soop or tray (or “sopara” in Gujarati tradition) where you place the baby clothes and bangles etc.
- Red kumkum (केशर/कुमकुम), raw rice grains (uncooked), turmeric, sindoor (as per family custom)
- Fruits, sweets, and special puja‐prasad items as per your local custom
- Gifts / “koseli” (for the baby, especially from the baby’s paternal aunt/father’s sister in some customs)
- Optional: bangles (for baby girl) placed on the tray as a sign of good fortune
Step-by-Step Puja Vidhi (Procedure) | Chhathi Puja for Newborn baby
Here is a clear vidhi you can follow at home. Again, consult your family elders or a priest if you have regional variation.
1. Preparation & Purification
- On the 6th day after the baby’s birth (or as per your tradition), clean the puja area well and decorate it simply with flowers and a clean cloth.
- The mother (or the baby’s maternal or paternal aunt, depending on tradition) bathes and dresses the baby in new clothes. Some families wait until evening for the puja.
- Arrange the tray (soop/sopara) with new baby clothes, cap/bonnet, socks, and for a baby girl, the bangles.
2. Placing the Paper, Pen & Lamp
- On the flat wooden plank or table, place a plain white sheet of paper and keep a red pen (uncapped) on it.
- Light the lamp (diya) with ghee or oil wick next to the paper and pen. Light incense too.
- Some customs place a kumkum/vermillion spot on the paper or the baby’s feet for footprints (optional).
3. Baby & Family Assembly
- The baby is held by the mother (or designated elder) and brought near the setup. The infant is dressed in the new clothes and blankets.
- The baby’s paternal aunt (“fūfū” in many cultures) or an elder may bring gifts and place them on the tray.
- Everyone sits respectfully; sometimes women only attend or the father is present as per local custom.
4. Invocation & Blessings
- Begin with a short prayer to Shashthi Devi (Chhathi Maiya) seeking her blessings for the child’s health, protection, long life and virtuous character.
- You may recite the mantra:
“ॐ शष्ठी देवि नमः” (Om Śaṣṭhī Devi Namah). - Request the goddess to accept the lamp, cloths, grains and gifts offered, and to watch over the newborn.
5. Symbolic “Writing the Destiny”
- The paper and pen symbolise the divine writing the child’s future. Some traditions leave these overnight for Shashthi Devi to write the destiny.
- Others may manually write a blessing or “nāsib” (good fortune) on the paper such as: “छठी मईया मारा दिकरा/दिक्री ……. को लम्बी, शुभ जीवन दे —” etc.
6. Applying Protective Marks & Gifts
- After the invocation, you may place bangles (for baby girl), new clothes, socks, cap etc on the tray. You may place raw rice or grains for good fortune.
- Some customs apply kajal (काजल) to the baby’s eyes or tie a small red thread/najarie on baby’s wrist or ankle to protect from evil eye.
7. Naming Ceremony (Optional)
- In many families, on the 6th day the baby’s name is whispered into the baby’s ear by the father or paternal elder, or announced to family and friends.
- Gifts, sweets and small celebration may follow.
8. Concluding the Puja
- After prayers, the lamp is allowed to burn for some time; the family offers sweets and fruits to the guests and the baby’s family.
- The paper and pen are collected in a safe place—some keep them as remembrance of the auspicious event.
- The mothers, baby and family rest, and normal life continues with gratitude and devotion.
Chhathi Puja for Newborn baby | Significance & Benefits
- The ritual symbolises the welcome of the baby into the home, and the seeking of divine protection from Shashthi Devi, who presides over children’s health and longevity.
- It reinforces family and community bonds: relatives gather, gifts are exchanged, and the event becomes a joyful welcome.
- Symbolic writing of the destiny and offering of new clothes, grains, etc carry the meaning of hope, prosperity and auspicious beginnings for the newborn.
Final Words
Performing the Chhathi Puja for a newborn baby is a beautiful way to welcome new life, seek divine blessings and mark the beginning of your child’s journey with hope and gratitude.
By preparing the items thoughtfully, following the ritual with care, and involving family and love, you’re not just performing a ceremony—you’re creating a memory of devotion and celebration.
May your baby grow in health, joy and virtue under the loving watch of Chhathi Maiya.
