Har Chhath Vrat Katha in English – PDF Download

Har Chhath Vrat Katha is a devotional story recited during the Har Chhath Puja, observed on the sixth day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada. Dedicated to Chhathi Maiya (Goddess Shashthi), the vrat is especially performed by mothers for the well-being, long life, and prosperity of their children. The katha narrates the origin of the festival, divine blessings received by devotees, and the importance of rituals like fasting, offering arghya, and singing aarti. Reading or listening to the Har Chhath Vrat Katha is believed to bring happiness, protect children from ailments, and bless families with good fortune.

Har Chhath Vrat Katha

According to Har Chhath or Lalahi Chhath Vrat Katha, there lived a milkmaid in ancient times. She was going to have a child soon. On one hand, she was worried about the problems related to delivery, while on the other hand, her mind was engaged in selling cow milk and curd. She thought that if she gave birth, her cow milk would be left lying there. Thinking this, she put the pot of milk and curd on her head and set out to sell it. But after going a little distance, she started having labor pains. After that, she went under the cover of a raspberry tree and gave birth to a child there.

But she left her child there and set out to sell milk and curd in the nearby villages. That day was Hal Shashthi. The milkmaid sold the mixed milk of cow and buffalo to the villagers by calling it buffalo milk only. A farmer was plowing the field near the raspberry tree under which the milkmaid had left her child. Suddenly the farmer’s bulls got agitated and the plough’s blade pierced the child’s body, causing the child’s death.

The farmer was very saddened by this incident. But still he showed great courage. He stitched the child’s torn stomach with raspberry thorns and left the child there and went away. After some time the milkmaid reached her child. Seeing the child in such a condition, it did not take her long to understand that all this was the punishment for her sin. She started thinking in her mind that if she had not lied and sold the cow’s milk to the villagers and had not corrupted the religion of the village women, then her child would never have been in such a condition. After this she thought of doing penance. The milkmaid returned to the village and told everything to the villagers.

She started roaming from street to street in the village and telling everyone about her misdeed and the punishment she received. After which the women of the village forgave her and blessed her. When she again reached under the raspberry tree after taking blessings from the village women, she was surprised. Because his son was alive there. Then he considered lying for selfish reasons to be equivalent to killing a brahmin and also vowed never to lie.

Har Chhath Maiya Ki Aarti in English

Jai Shashṭhī Māte, Jai Halashashṭhī Māte
Karunāmayi guṇa-śīle, tiṭhi-śīle abhaya-de

Vachasātīta mahimne, vātsalyaṁ ānande
Jai Halashashṭhī Māte

Kaṁsabhaginiyā pūjye, candralalita-sutade
Vaṁśakare prabhuri vaguṇa-yukta vatsakaprade
Jai Hal…

Vaidarbhyāpi supūjye, naṣṭaputradatare
Śrī-khaṇḍa-prasavāṅge, varuṇāmodakare
Jai Hal…

Kṛiḍanakenā bhavābdhe, pūjye saukhyavarade
Ambuyukta chīrair ajire, ajaravajrakare
Jai Hal…

Mahiṣīdūgdha-prabhārca, varade dharmadhare
Kṛṣṇāgraja-guṇa-yukte, śubhbre kṛṣṇapriye
Jai Hal…

Varuṇen ādiyuge’smin, hariś-candṛakula-de
Svānande prāmītyo ṛṇa-trishanku-janane
Jai Hal…

Gāyantīti manuṣyāḥ tīre cāmba-uvare
Kāle doṣa-vimuktā, varuṇānandamaye
Jai Hal…

In the sacred observance of Har Chhath Puja, the worship of Chhathi Maiya holds deep spiritual and cultural significance. Devotees begin the vrat with traditional rituals, fasting, and the recitation of the Har Chhath Vrat Katha, offering prayers for the health, longevity, and prosperity of their children. However, the puja is considered truly complete only after performing the Aarti of Har Chhath Mata. This devotional song is an expression of gratitude, reverence, and surrender to the Goddess, celebrating her virtues, compassion, and blessings. Singing the Aarti after the katha not only fulfills the religious protocol of the vrat but is also believed to invoke the Goddess’s full grace, ensuring the well-being of the family and the success of the observance. Therefore, once the story is read, it is essential to conclude the worship with the melodious and heartfelt Aarti of Har Chhath Mata.