Kharna in Chhath Puja 2025 : Kharna, by binding everyone with a devoted love and devotion, celebrates the holding of a day-long fast. Only very few, like fasting without a drop of water, which, according to the clean heart and mind of Adhyaya 18 of the Holi Gita, holds one in the best spirit, can be considered as pricks on devotees who do kaparwids of the entire day. Devotees on the day of Kharna, fast during the whole day, and the fast ends on Kharna day, with no food being allowed into their mouths at all, and the same goes for water.
This day is spent, then, readying the house, the puja jaagah, and their positive musings. The Kharna serves to give the followers a bit of cool comfort before embarking on a day of utter torture with those who manage to hold a 36-hour fast while, at the same time, remaining in utter purity in their conviction to feed their Shashti Maiya and thus make for good health, wealth, and happiness to fall on them and their families:
Kharna Thereafter
Kharna then epitomizes the cleanliness in fasting of the heart and body-“not drinking even a spoonful of water.” In total, this is a Nirjala Vrat, which commences with a rigorous fast, during which food is not taken at all, not even a sip of water. Activities like cleaning the house, decorating the puja jaagah, and eradicating evil thoughts from the day following fasting entertain and strengthen the foothold of the continuation of fasting and thus, 36 hours minus food or water is a very hard, hardcore faith with pure heart, to bring good health, riches, and happiness to the family as an offering from Chhathi Maiya.
Prasad Kharna
After the bath, the devotee prepares sacred offerings. The celebration’s major offering is Kheer, made of jaggery, rice, and milk; followed by roti and puri made of wheat flour. This Prasad, vegetarian fully, keeps its sanctity provided it is made with good material, that is, without any salt, onion, or even garlic. This Prasad becomes an offering for Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya, after which devotees partake of it. With eating the meal comes the consolation on the devotees after completing the first half when fast started.
The Beginning of the 36 – Hours Purna Fast
This is a huge sum of time for people to complete in what is considered to be the Kharna Prasad. One more verse-this time, even more challenging: you eat and/or drink not a drop from the night of Kharna onwards. This fast is until the dirge, Sandharya Argyam, offered to the setting sun the next day evening, again, as at a river, pond, or other clear water sources. This painful penance is a symbol of unwavering faith, discipline, and respect for such devotees; the entire family and community join hands to support the devotees in celebration.
Bringing together Faith, Togetherness, and Indomitable Fidelity
Kharna teaches that true worship does not call for acts or rituals of devotion but a heart free from malice, inclining towards goodness, and being self-governing. The celebration is essentially an occasion which clearly has brought into unity families and communities. Together they pray for peace, good fortune, and the warding off of diseases. Chhath Puja ties spiritually the Sun God with the Life Source of this one and all on the planet. Kharna is therefore a festival which very much heralds the unity within families and of all peoples in order to prayer for peace, riches, and devoidness of diseases.