Home › Festivals › Chhath Puja - Nahay Khay

Hindu festival · San Francisco Bay Area

Chhath Puja - Nahay Khay

Why it matters

The opening day of Chhath focuses on purification, bathing and preparing a simple sacred meal before the stricter stages of the vrata.

The story behind it

Chhath is an ancient solar observance centered on gratitude to Surya and Chhathi Maiya, discipline, purity and family well-being.

Prayers and worship

Purification prayers, Surya remembrance and preparation for the fast; households maintain ritual cleanliness.

Fasting and devotional customs

The vratin bathes, eats a simple purified meal and begins strict discipline for the coming days.

What is typically offered

Thekua, seasonal fruit, sugarcane, coconut, lamps and offerings arranged in bamboo baskets are common.

Visiting a temple that day

When held outdoors, respect water-edge safety, maintain silence during arghya and avoid obstructing the vratins. Temple practices vary by region and sampradaya. Dress modestly, remove footwear where required, follow priest/volunteer directions, ask before photography, and check the temple’s event page for exact pooja, fasting and prasādam arrangements.

Spiritual themes

Gratitude, discipline, purity, family well-being and reverence for the Sun.

This date was derived for the Fremont anchor from standard tithi, nakṣatra and solar-ingress rules. Dates are compiled for the Fremont / Bay Area location and checked against Northern-California Panchāṅgam references. They can differ from a calendar computed for another city or another sampradāya. Please confirm any date on which you plan a ceremony with Sri Kumar Gurukkal. How these dates are calculated →