Chhath Puja 2023: How to decorate a Chhath basket? What items to include and here's what to know

• Image Credit: Google

• Nov 17, 2023 | Pinaki Goswami

Devotees utilize a specific basket (tokri) to perform the puja of Chhathi Maiya and offer arghya to Lord Surya...

Digital Desk: Chhath Puja is celebrated six days after Diwali, particularly in places like Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Bihar with great majesty. The celebrations for Chhath Puja began on Friday, November 17, 2023. Chhath Vratins followed customs such as washing and making offerings of lentils and pumpkins after having a holy bath.

The four-day Chhath Puja will be observed till November 20. Each day of Chhath Puja involves different rituals. A sacred bath is taken by devotees on the first day. Fasting is observed on the second day, and on the third and fourth days, people continue the custom of presenting arghya to the sun. In the evening and morning arghya, devotees visit ghats, ponds, or rivers with their entire family. 

Devotees utilize a specific basket (tokri) to perform the puja of Chhathi Maiya and offer arghya to Lord Surya. For this reason, the basket is prepared and decorated with all the necessary items before going to the ghats. Let's know how to decorate the basket, prepare the soup or dal, and what to include in it.

Essential Items for Decorating the Chhath Basket:

· Soup, Daura, or dalia (made of bamboo or brass)

· Coconut

· Suthani (a type of thread)

· Sweet potatoes

· Honey container

· Betel nut

· Karva (a pot with a spout)

· Amla (Indian gooseberry)

· Big lemons

· Daura (a banana-shaped ornament)

· Red rice

· Turmeric

· Jaggery

· Betel leaves

· Fruits

· Incense

· Sugarcane

· Flowers

· Thekua (a sweet prepared during Chhath Puja)

· Makeup items

· Sindoor (vermilion)

· Red or yellow cloth (to tie the soup)

Here's how to decorate the Chhath Puja Basket:

During Chhath Puja, the basket that is used to offer arghya to Lord Surya is beautifully decorated. First, wash and pat dry the daura or soup first. Apply sindoor over both sides of the soup, then place each side with a few betel leaves. Store all the produce and gifts within. Some individuals save five or eleven fruits and offerings. After that, fasten it firmly with the fabric. Make sure the soup has jaggery as well. It is seen as extremely fortunate. Next, place a little incense on the soup's two sides. Family members carry the burned soup to the ghats on their heads afterwards. During this procedure, a Chhath Puja song related to carrying the Daura to the ghat is sung.