According to the Vedic calendar, the grand festival of faith, Chhath Puja, begins today, November 13th. The second day of this four-day, rigorous, and significant observance is known as 'Kharna,' which holds special importance.

On this day, those observing the fast remain without food or water (nirjala) throughout the day. In the evening, they perform rituals to worship Chhathi Maiya and offer 'prasad' (sacred food offerings) to her. You may have noticed that the prasad for Kharna is always served on a banana leaf. Do you know the reason behind this? If not, let us explore the religious and traditional significance behind this practice in this article.

What is the reason behind this?
In Hinduism, the banana tree and its leaves are considered highly sacred and worthy of reverence. Compared to metal or other types of vessels, banana leaves are considered pure; since they are used only once, there is no possibility of them becoming impure or 'jootha' (contaminated by prior use). This is why banana leaves are used for the Kharna prasad—to maintain the sanctity of the grand Chhath festival.

It is worth noting that Chhath is, at its core, a festival dedicated to the worship of nature. Consequently, the use of earthen stoves, bamboo winnowing baskets (soop), and banana leaves is considered ideal during the rituals.

According to religious belief, Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi reside within the banana tree. The tree is regarded as a symbol of happiness, prosperity, and auspiciousness. This is why it is considered auspicious to place and consume the Kharna prasad on a banana leaf.

What happens on the day of Kharna?
On the second day of Chhath Puja—Kharna—those observing the fast go without food or water (nirjala) for the entire day. In the evening, the *prasad* (offering) is prepared with great sanctity and adherence to specific rituals, using mango wood as fuel on a new earthen stove.

The primary *prasad* for *Kharna* consists of *kheer* (a sweet rice pudding) made from new-harvest rice and jaggery, along with *rotis* (flatbreads) brushed with *ghee*.

After sunset, Lord Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya are worshipped with incense and *diyas* (oil lamps).
Following this, the *prasad* is served on a banana leaf and offered to the deities.

Once the worship concludes, the person observing the fast breaks their day-long fast by consuming this *prasad*.

Only after the person observing the fast has partaken of the *prasad* is it then distributed among other family members, neighbors, and relatives.

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