Chhath Puja 2017 | Day 2: All you need to know about 'Kharna' ritual

Diwali has been celebrated all over India with much grandeur and zeal, but the festive season in Northern India is yet to be ended. Chhath Puja is one of those much famous festivals which will carry out the fervour and passion of festivity in some of the North Indian states.

Chhath Puja is celebrated mainly in Bihar and some parts of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Nepal.

Markets across Bihar are now garnished with a bunch of traditional items like earthen lamps, clay stoves, mango trees, soop, tokri and others.Devotees all over North India have been seen going for market hopping and are busy celebrating the four-day-long Chhath parv or Mahaparv.

Chhath Puja is generally performed to thank Lord Surya and Chhati Maiyya (Usha, Lord Surya's wife), for sustaining life on earth and to request for granting certain wishes.

Chhath means sixth because it falls on the sixth day of the month of Kartika (October/November) or simply on the sixth day after Diwali. God Surya is worshiped very passionately for the well being of their family and near and dear ones.

Also Read: Chhath Puja 2017 | Day 1: All you need to know about 'Nahay Khay'

This year Chhath Puja begins on 24th October and will continue till 27th October.

The Shashthi Tithi is said to be started at 9:37 am on October 25 and will culminate at 12:15 pm on October 26.

According to Mahabharat and Ramayan, Draupadi along with the Pandavas, upon advice from the noble sage Dhaumya, performed Chhath Puja.

Here we bring you some important facts regarding one of those rituals namely 'Kharna', performed in the second day of puja.

Also Read: Chhath festival begins, ghats in Delhi decked up for devotees

Kharna:

The second day of Chhath is known as Kharna. On this day fasting without water is observed from the sunrise to the sunset. The fast is broken just after sunset after making the food offering the Sun God.

The third-day fasting begins after having Prasad on the second day.