The second day of Chhath Puja, also called Kharna or Lohanda, is a very spiritual stage in the four-day festival celebrating Surya Dev (Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya. This year in 2025, Kharna is observed today on October 26 (Sunday), with devotees all over Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Nepal celebrating this day with strict devotion and discipline.
Chhath Day 2: Kharna – Importance
Kharna symbolises purification, gratitude, and preparation for the intense fasting and prayers that follow. On this day, devotees undertake a Nirjala Vrat, abstaining from both food and water from dawn till dusk as an act of spiritual and physical cleansing. It signifies surrender to divine will and offers devotees an opportunity to express gratitude to Lord Surya for life, health, and prosperity. It is also thought that Chhathi Maiya comes down to bless the devotees with power and tranquility, preparing them for the 36-hour waterless fast to come.
Chhath Day 2: Kharna – Rituals LinkedĀ
The day starts with the devotees cleaning their houses and setting up sacred places for the evening puja. They keep themselves completely pure all day long, not taking even a drop of water. As the sun is setting at 5:41 PM, families conduct rituals beside rivers, ponds, or courtyards. They make offerings of jaggery water, incense, and lamps to Surya Dev and Usha, the dawn goddess. They then make prayers, after which they make preparations for the sacred Kharna Prasad- Rasiyaav (jaggery kheer), roti, and fruits – in new utensils and clay stoves to uphold sanctity.
Chhath Day 2: Kharna – Evening Feast, Breaking the Fast
Once they have done the evening puja, devotees break their fast by taking Kharna Prasad – a satvik meal without onion, garlic, or spices. This is the only food before the start of the 36-hour Nirjala fast. The prasad is offered to the deity first, and then distributed among family, friends, and neighbours, reflecting community bonding and shared faith. The meal helps in physical stamina and mental courage for the tough fast ahead.
Chhath Day 2: Kharna – Blessings and Spiritual Meaning
Kharna is considered to be the core of Chhath Puja – a day of real self-control, cleansing, and surrender. It is the devotee’s initiation to align intimately with cosmic power, recognising nature’s vitality forces. By performing this act of worship, devotees invoke the favours of Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya for health, prosperity, and family peace. The simplicity of the observance makes participants recall the power in faith and the innocence of pure worship.
