CM Bhajan Lal Sharma Greets Chhath Devotees on Kharna
Synopsis
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma greeted Chhath Puja devotees on Kharna, the festival's second day, praying for peace, prosperity and joy for all families under Chhathi Maiya's grace.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma extended greetings to all Chhath devotees on Kharna , the second day of Chhath Puja, on 14 November 2026 .
Kharna involves a daylong dry fast broken after sunset with a ritual meal, followed by a waterless fast through the festival's final days.
Chhath Puja is a four-day festival honouring the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya , with roots in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, now observed widely across Rajasthan.
CM Sharma invoked Chhathi Maiya's blessings for 'happiness, peace and prosperity' in every family.
State chief ministers across India routinely issue festival greetings, with Chhath holding growing cultural and civic significance in Rajasthan's urban communities.
On the second day of Chhath Puja, as millions of devotees across northern India observe the sacred Kharna ritual — a day of fasting, prayer, and purification — Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma extended warm wishes to all Chhath vratis on Saturday, 14 November 2026.
Posting in Hindi on X, CM Sharma wrote: 'On the auspicious occasion of Kharna, the second day of Chhath Puja — the great festival of faith, purity, sanctity and rigorous penance — heartfelt greetings to all Chhath devotees. May the boundless grace of Chhathi Maiya bring happiness, peace and prosperity into everyone's lives, and may every family be filled with joy and positivity.'
What Kharna Means for Crores of Devotees
Chhath Puja is a four-day festival dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, observed with extraordinary rigour — no food, no water for extended stretches, riverbank prayers at dawn and dusk. The Kharna day is the second of the four, when devotees break a daylong dry fast after sunset with a ritual meal of rice and jaggery, then recommit to a waterless fast through the festival's final two days. It is among the most demanding personal observances in Hindu tradition. The festival draws its deepest roots from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, but Chhath communities have spread across Rajasthan's cities and towns, making the occasion increasingly visible in the state's public calendar.BJP's Outreach to Chhath Communities in Rajasthan
Chief ministers across India routinely mark major regional festivals on social media — but Chhath carries particular political and cultural weight. The festival's devotee base spans both urban migrant communities and long-settled populations in Rajasthan, and a greeting from the state's top office signals institutional recognition of the occasion. Bhajan Lal Sharma, who assumed office as Rajasthan's Chief Minister in December 2023, has consistently used social media to maintain visible contact with the state's diverse communities. His Kharna message follows that pattern — broad in its benediction, rooted in the festival's own language of faith and endurance. As the remaining days of Chhath Puja unfold, eyes will be on how the state's administration manages ghat access, crowd arrangements and civic facilities for communities gathering at water bodies to offer their evening and dawn arghya — the offerings to the setting and rising sun that form the emotional heart of the festival.Point of View
Who leads a BJP government in a state with a growing Poorvanchali migrant community, the Kharna greeting is a soft but deliberate signal of inclusion. It fits a broader BJP strategy of expanding its cultural footprint beyond its traditional Rajasthani base. The real governance test will be in ghat management and civic readiness for the lakhs who gather at water bodies for the final arghya rituals.
NationPress
14 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kharna in Chhath Puja?
Kharna is the second day of the four-day Chhath Puja festival. Devotees observe a daylong dry fast and break it after sunset with a ritual meal of rice kheer and jaggery, after which they begin a strict waterless fast until the conclusion of the festival.
Who is Bhajan Lal Sharma?
Bhajan Lal Sharma is the Chief Minister of Rajasthan and a senior BJP leader who assumed office in December 2023.
Why is Chhath Puja celebrated in Rajasthan?
Chhath Puja is primarily rooted in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, but large communities of devotees from these regions now live across Rajasthan's cities, making it an increasingly significant cultural and civic occasion in the state.
What did CM Bhajan Lal Sharma say on Kharna 2026?
CM Sharma extended heartfelt greetings to all Chhath devotees on Kharna, praying that Chhathi Maiya's grace bring happiness, peace and prosperity to every family.
What happens after Kharna in Chhath Puja?
After Kharna, devotees observe two more days of Chhath Puja — offering arghya to the setting sun and then to the rising sun at the river bank, which marks the conclusion of the festival.
