Chitragupta Puja will be celebrated on November 14. (Image: Shutterstock)
Chitragupta Puja 2023: From date, shubh muhurat, puja vidhi to significance, here’s all you need to know about the festival.
CHITRAGUPTA PUJA 2023: Post the Diwali celebrations, Bhai Dooj is celebrated in most parts of North India every year but in the Kayastha community, a special worship ritual is organised in the honour of Lord Chitragupta. This year Chitragupta Puja will be commemorated on November 14, Tuesday.
It is believed that Lord Chitragupta is the close associate of the Hindu god of death Lord Yama who is assigned with the task of keeping complete records of karma of human beings on the earth, as per Hindu mythology. Also known as the God of justice, it is believed that Chitragupta keeps a record of all sins and virtues of human beings and chastises those who commit sins.
Bhai Dooj, also known as Yama Dwitiya, is observed on Dwitiya Tithi in the month of Kartik, according to the Hindu calendar. On this day, Yamraj, the lord of death is worshipped along with Lord Chitragupta and Yama-Doots, the subordinates of Lord Yamraj in many parts of India.
So, here’s a complete guide about the puja that you need to know if you want to celebrate the Chitragupta Puja this year.
Chitragupta Puja 2023: Shubh Muhurat
Shukla Paksha Dwitiya begins on November 14 (02:36 PM). The Puja Tithi and Shubh Muhurat are from 01:13 PM to 03:32 PM and the Kartik Shukla Dwitiya Tithi will end on November 15 (01:47 PM).
Chitragupta Puja 2023: Puja Vidhi
1. On this day, devotees take a bath, dress up to clean the idol of Lord Chitragupta, and then give it a bath with rose water.
2. After the rose water bath, the idol of Lord Chitragupta is placed in the east direction on a chok (traditional rangoli).
3. Devotees then put a roli tikka on it, light a diya of ghee in front of the deity, adorn it with rice, and offer flowers.
4. Post that, panchamitra using dahi, milk, honey, sugar, and ghee is prepared as prasad, and sweets, fruits, and prasad are offered to the diety.
5. It is believed that placing a pen and diary during the puja is quite important.
6. The Chitragupta Puja Vidhi also entails making a swastik sign on the ground with a mix of abir, vermillion, turmeric, and sandalwood paste.
7. After making swastik, place rice on it and put a kalash, half-filled with water, above it.
8. Now prepare guraadi by mixing jaggery and ginger, and read the Chitragupta katha.
9. Post-katha, aarti is performed, and flowers and rice are sprinkled on the idol.
Chitragupta Puja 2023: Significance
Devotees believe that worshipping Chitragupta will remove the impact of their bad deeds from his record book and help them get his blessings. As per Hindu mythology, Chitragupta maintains meticulous records of every individual’s life and deeds, deciding their fate in the afterlife and whether a particular soul should be rewarded with moksha (liberation) or given punishment for his evil deeds.
Chitragupta Puja signifies a plea to Lord Chitragupta for justice, wisdom, literacy, and peace, and it is believed that Chitragupta revises the record if he sees the person making amends.
