Chhath

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Chhath is a compound of two words ""Chah"" meaning ""six stages"" and ""Hath"" refers to the science of Hath Yog austerity.

According to Yoga philosophy, the process of Chhath is divided into six stages of the Conscious Cosmic Solar Energy Infusion Technique (Conscious Photoenergization Process).

1. Stage 1: Fasting and the discipline of cleanliness leads to detoxification of the body and mind. This stage prepares the body and mind of the Vratti (devotee) to receive the cosmic solar energy. 
2. Stage 2: Standing in a water body with half the body (navel deep) in the water minimizes the leak of energy and helps the prana (psychic energy) to move up the sushumna (psychic channel in the spine). 
3. Stage 3: Cosmic Solar Energy enters the Vratti’s pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus glands (Triveni complex) through the retina and optic nerves. 
4. Stage 4: Activation of Triveni tri-glandular complex (pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus). 
5. Stage 5: A kind of polarization happens in the spine, which results in the Vratti’s (devotee) gross and subtle bodies getting transformed into a cosmic powerhouse. This can also lead to the awakening of the latent psychic energy popularly known as the Kundalini Shakti. 
6. Stage 6: The body of the Vratti (devotee) becomes a channel which conducts, recycles and transmits the energy into the entire universe. 

Chhath is a festival of bathing and worshipping,that follows a period of abstinence and segregation of the worshiper from the main household for four days. During this period, the worshiper observes purity, and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket.This is the only holy festival which has no involvement of any pandit(priest).The devotees offer their prayers to the setting sun, and then the rising sun in celebrating its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death. It is seen as the most glorious form of Sun worship.

Nahay khay

On the first day of Chhath Puja, the devotees take a dip, preferably in the river 

1. Kosi river, 
2. Karnali and 
3. Ganga 

and carry home the holy water of these historical rivers to prepare the offerings. The house and surroundings are scrupulously cleaned. The ladies observing the Vrata called vratin allow themselves only one meal on this day.

Lohanda and Kharna

On the second day of Chhath Puja, the day before Chhath, the Vratins observe a fast for the whole day, which ends in the evening a little after sunset. Just after the worship of Sun and moon, the offerings of 

1. Kheer (rice delicacy), 
2. puris (deep-fried puffs of wheat flour) and 
3. bananas, 

are distributed among family and friends. The Vratins go on a fast without water for 36 hours after 2nd day evening prashad (kheer).

Sandhya Arghya (evening offerings)]

This day is spent preparing the prasad (offerings)at home. On the eve of this day, the entire household accompanies the Vratins to a 

1. riverbank, 
2. pond or 
3. a common large water body to make the offerings (Arghya) to the setting sun.

 It is during this phase of Chhath Puja that the devotees offer prayers to the just setting sun. The occasion is almost a carnival. Besides the Vratins, there are friends and family, and numerous participants and onlookers, all willing to help and receive the blessings of the worshipper. The folk songs sung on the evening of Chhath.

Usha Arghya (morning offerings)

On the final day of Chhath Puja, the devotees, along with family and friends, go to the riverbank before sunrise, in order to make the offerings (Arghya) to the rising sun. The festival ends with the breaking of the fast by the Vratins. Friends, Relatives visit the houses of the devotees to receive the prasad.

The main worshipers, called Parvaitin (from Sanskrit parv, meaning 'occasion' or 'festival'), are usually women. However, a large number of men also observe this festival. The parvaitin pray for the

1.  well-being of their family, and 
2. for the prosperity of their offsprings. 

Once a family starts performing Chhatt Puja, it is their duty to perform it every year and to pass it on to the following generations. The festival is skipped only if there happens to be a death in the family that year.

The prasad offerings include sweets, 

1. Kheer, 
2. Thekua and 
3. fruit offered in small bamboo soop winnows. 

The food is strictly vegetarian and it is cooked without 

1. salt, 
2. onions or 
3. garlic. 

Emphasis is put on maintaining the purity of the food.

Origin and Significance 

http://m.indiatvnews.com/news/india/the-origin-and-significance-of-chhath-puja--18673.html
Shakya Dwipi Brahmins were expertise in worshiping Lord Sun
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakaldwipiya

Mahabharata

1. It is also believed that Chhath was started with the hands of Kunti. With the blessings of Lord Surya, she had a son named Karna. He is also known as Son of Surya or Surya Putra Karan. He ruled Anga Desh during Mahabharat age which is now the Bhagalpur region of Bihar in India. 
2. It is believed that Draupadi with the rulers of Hastinapur Pandavas performed Chhath later they received their lost kingdom.

Observing states and nations: 

Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and the Terai provinces of Nepal, the northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Delhi, Mumbai, Chhapra (Saran), Darbhanga, Samastipur, Muzaffarnagar, Madhuvani, Dehri-on-Sone (Rohtas), Patna, Dev, Gaya, Karnataka, Magalore, Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname and Jamaica

Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhath
Trek
http://trekkerpedia.com/2014/07/chhath-puja-in-bihar-ancient-festival-of-worshiping-the-sun/

Date
http://www.drikpanchang.com/chhath/chhath-puja-calendar.html
http://www.mykundali.com/festival/chhathpuja/

Tube
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Chhath