Kharna, the second day of the Chhath Mahaparv which is the most revered Hindu festival observed with immense faith, dedication, discipline and devotion. Chhath is mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal. Chhath or the Chhath Mahaparv is a four day festival,, the second day of which is Kharna which is the day that is the start of the rigorous devotional fasting and spiritual awakening.
Kharna this year in 2025 will be observed on sunday the 26th of October. Kharna is a day in which when can feel the innocence, virtue, worship and dedication in the air all around. This day marks the beginning of the fasting that starts from the day of Kharna and unending devotion towards Surya Devta and Chhathi Maiyya.
Want to know about Kharna
Kharna, the second day of Chhath is also popularly known as Lohanda or Kharna Parv in many areas. It is observed on the Dwitiya Tithi of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik which is the month of October or November. The dwitiya tithi is determined by the lunar placement or the position of the new moon.
The first day of this Chhath Mahaparv is Nahay Khay where Kaddu Bhaat (steamed white rice and bottle gourd) and Chana dal(lentils) are eaten and the food prepared is onion and garlic free.
“Kharna” the word in itself manifests atonement and remission. On Kharna, the Vrati or the one observing the Chhath fast and the one who prepares the meal if they are not the same person, fast from the morning. They do not drink water nor take in any food, they observe a Nirjala Vrat. .
In the evening, a prasad or a sacred meal which consists of Kheer (sweet rice porridge), roti or puri and even onion-garlic free vegetable curry is prepared. This meal is usually prepared on a earthen stove which is specially made for Chhath. The Vrati eats her first meal of the day after performing Puja. And after they have the prasad, thereafter starts the 36 hour long fast. without food and water, that is nirjala vrat.
Kharna Rituals
On the morning of Kharna, devotees wake up early, cleanse their homes and take a bath. The day has to be a Nirjala Vrat, a fast without food and water. In the evening prasad is prepared which is also the only meal for the devotees or the Vratis. Know below the Kharna rituals in detail:
1. Day long Nirjala Vrat or Fasting
The Vratis keep a day log Nirjala Vrat which is a daylong fast without food and water. This fast is symbolic of cleansing and a invitation to virtue and purity. It is said that this Kharna fast removes all negativity from the mind and the body. This fast also prepares for the more rigorous 36 hour fast that is about to come on the main day of Chhath Mahaparv.
2. Preparing the Prasad and the sacred meal
The day long fast of this day has to conclude in the evening, and for this prasad is prepared. The fast is broken after the sun sets, and the Puja needs to be completed before that. Prasad consists of Gur ki Kheer (sweet rice and milk porridge with jaggery), roti and banana. In come places vegetable curry may also be prepared without onion and garlic but is generally not offered to the deities.
In some areas both gur ki kheer and cheeni ki kheer are prepared. Ghee (clarified butter) is put on the rotis. All the meals are prepared on mitti ka chulha (earthen stove) specially made for Chhath. Mostly mango wood is used to ignite the fire in the stove. Only clean and new utensils which are made of pital (brass) are used on this day. Generally, the Vratis or the one observing the fast prepares this meal, but in many areas other family members can also do so.
3. The Kharna Puja
After the prasad is prepared, it is first offered to the setting sun and to Chhathi Maiya with folded hands and it is vowed that they will perform the Chhath Vrat with full dedication, discipline and faith. Thereafter the Vratis consume this prasad in isolation so that no one sees them while having the prasad.
4. Prasad for everyone
After the Vrati has the prasad, it is distributed to anyone who wants to have it. This prasad os considered specially auspicious and is said that it cleanses the soul.
Spiritual Significance and Importance of Kharna
Kharna is not just a tradition and a ritual of one day. It is a representation of the faith, devotion, discipline, compassion and virtue that everyone should practice in their daily lives.
- Cleansing and Purification: Kharna represents cleansing of mind and soul. This day signifies that in order to surrender yourself to the divinity, you need to let go of worldly pleasures and cleanse your inner self.
- Gratitude to Nature: This festival is about showing gratitude and thanking nature for everything it has given us, for thanking nature for our being. Sun which is considered the power which gives life on earth, nurtures life, and this day thanks the nature both water and Sun for giving us life, food and water.
- Balance between physical and spiritual world: This day is the bridge from this world to the cosmic universe, where one gives up the materialistic pleasures and surrenders to the cosmic energy.
- Commemoration of faith and devotion: The vratis do Chhath and Kharna with utmost dedication and discipline with the paramount love for universe and divinity. The Vratis surrender themselves to the cosmos and believe that they will take care of them this day and always.
The Gateway to Nature and its glory
Kharna celebrates and worships nature. Water and Sun are considered extremely sacred and thus they are worshipped. For preparing Kharna prasad, earthern stove or mitti ka chulha is used as it is the most pious element and this is how earth is thanked.
Natural elements like fruits, rice, jaggery and milk are only used to prepare prasad. This is a way to show gratitude to nature and thank nature and the cosmos for everything. Mango leaves and wood are used to light the chulha and no artificial ignition items are used. Chhath is the most eco- friendly festival there is and thus it is called Mahaparv.
The Essence of Kharna
Kharna brings families and community together. Everyone gathers and prays and preapres prasad or the sadred meal together. People share emotions and faith on this day. Family members clean and decorate their homes together on thius day.
As no outside sweets or food is used thus everyone prepared food together, this brings them even closer. People listen to Chhath songs by Late Sharda Sinha, the legendary singer on this day while doing the prepartions. It make severyone aware of the culture that has been so teraditionally rich always.
The Chhathi Maiya and Surya Dev songs thank the nature for food and eatwr, for family, for life, for children, for happiness and peace. Just hearing the Chhath songs brings goosebumps, and everyone gets tear eyed while thinking we are so lucky to be alive and happy.
Conclusion
Kharna , the second of the Mahaparv is the bridge to the divine destination from earth to the divinity. The day is all about purity, virute , cleansing your past karmas. The prasad on this day is also so sacred beacuse of its closeness to nature that it cleanses not only your body but also the soul.
The Vratis and the followers stern belief in nature, in Dun and in Chhathi Maiyya that they will be their side during this 36 hour long nirjala fast is commendable. It is the belief in the cosmos that enables them to do everything with the ultimate faith and peace. May the purity and sacredness of this day bring peace in everyone’s life.