Why is Arghya offered even to the setting sun during Chhath Puja, know the real reason for this

Chhath Puja 2024: Chhath Mahaparva, dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, is a major festival of Hindu religion, which is celebrated with great pomp and joy mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Nepal.

In the four-day ritual of Chhath Puja, Arghya is offered to the setting sun on the third day. The main purpose of this day is to honor the Sun God and his wife Pratyusha. Chhath Puja starts with the tradition of Nahay-Khay on the Chaturthi date of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month.

This festival lasts for 4 days. On the second day, the ritual of Kharna is completed and on the third day i.e. on the Shashthi Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month, Chhath Puja is performed by offering Arghya to the setting sun. Chhath festival ends with offering Arghya to the rising Sun on Saptami Tithi, the fourth day of Chhath Puja. Let us know the reason for offering Arghya to the setting sun.

Know the reason for offering Arghya to the setting sun

According to astrology, the tradition of offering Arghya to the setting sun on the third day of Chhath Puja has been going on for centuries. Offering Arghya to the setting sun has special significance, as this time symbolically indicates the end of life’s struggles and difficulties and the beginning of a new life.

By worshiping the setting sun, one gains the power to remove the darkness in life and welcome the next morning with new energy.

Goddess Pratyusha is associated with the setting sun

If astrologers are to be believed, while offering Arghya to the setting Sun, Pratyusha, the wife of Sun God, is also worshipped. Pratyusha is related to evening time and is considered the goddess of evening time. The name Pratyusha is derived from ‘Pratyush’, which means ‘evening’ or ‘sunset time’. According to mythological beliefs, Pratyusha is considered to be the second wife of Suryadev.

It is said that through the setting form of Sun God, his wife Pratyusha is also worshipped, so that the evening time also provides happiness, prosperity and peace.

It is believed that when Surya Dev separated from his wife Sangya, the form of Sangya expanded into the form of Pratyusha and Chhaya. Both Pratyusha and Chhaya were considered different forms of nouns. The influence of Pratyusha increases when the sun sets, hence, Pratyusha is also worshiped while offering Arghya to the setting sun. This puja is an expression of gratitude to the Sun God for providing energy to all living beings.