Pausha Month 2024: Significance, rituals and festivals

As per the Hindu calendar, the Pausha month, also referred to as the “Month of Puss,” is the tenth month of the year, beginning after Margashirsha Purnima.

This year, Pausha starts on Monday, December 16, 2024, and concludes on Monday, January 13, 2025.

The month holds deep religious significance, with traditions centered around worshiping Lord Surya (Sun God) and honoring ancestors.

Importance of the Pausha Month

The Pausha month is closely associated with Lord Surya and is considered auspicious for spiritual activities, fasting, and charity.

One of the major festivals in this month, Makar Sankranti, marks the Sun's transition into the Capricorn sign, signifying a time for renewal and prosperity. 

Rituals such as bathing in sacred rivers, offering donations, and observing fasts bring happiness and success to devotees.

Charitable acts hold special importance during Pausha. Donations of sesame seeds, jaggery, clothes, and food are believed to result in blessings of health, wealth, and peace.

Traditional foods like khichdi and sesame-based sweets, such as laddus, are enjoyed, further enriching the festive spirit.

Major Fasts and Festivals in Pausha Month

The month is punctuated by significant events:

Saphala Ekadashi

Sankashti Chaturthi

Monthly Shivratri

Pradosh Fast

Pausha Amavasya

These observances encourage spiritual reflection and devotion, contributing to the month’s religious significance.

Characteristics of People Born in Pausha Month

Individuals born during Pausha are believed to be influenced by the Sun God, endowing them with leadership qualities, discipline, and self-confidence. They are known for their courage, punctuality, and unwavering principles. Such individuals often display an inclination towards spirituality and tradition, valuing self-respect and independence.

Hardworking by nature, they maintain a positive attitude even in challenging circumstances and prioritize family values and relationships.

How to Worship the Sun God in Pausha Month

Worshiping Lord Surya during Pausha is a revered tradition, believed to bring vitality, prosperity, and success. Here is a guide for devotees:

1. Wake up before sunrise and take a purifying bath.

2. Wear clean clothes and purify the worship area.

3. At sunrise, offer Arghya (water mixed with red flowers, rice, and Roli) to the Sun God in a copper pot.

4. Chant the mantra “Om Suryay Namah” during Arghya.

5. Recite the “Aditya Hridaya Stotra” or chant mantras like “Om Adityaya Namah” and “Om Ghrini Suryay Namah” 108 times for blessings of health and prosperity.

6. Place an idol or picture of Lord Surya at the altar and offer jaggery, sesame seeds, red-colored fruits, flowers, and incense.

7. Perform charity, particularly items like jaggery, sesame seeds, and red clothes, for auspicious outcomes.

Mantras for the Pausha Month

Devotees can chant these mantras for divine blessings:

Surya Gayatri Mantra:
Om Bhaskarai Vidmahe, Mahatejaya Dhimahi, Tannah Surya Prachodayat
Benefits: Boosts self-confidence and positive energy.

Aditya Mantra:
Om Adityaya Namah
Benefits: Enhances mental and physical well-being.

Surya Beej Mantra:
Om Hram Hrim Hram Sah Suryay Namah
Benefits: Overcomes life’s challenges and empowers devotees.

Surya Namaskar Mantra:
Om Ghrini Suryay Namah
Benefits: Infuses energy and enthusiasm through Surya Namaskar practice.

Conclusion

Pausha month is a sacred time for Hindus, filled with rituals and traditions aimed at seeking the blessings of Lord Surya. By embracing charity, devotion, and self-discipline, devotees can ensure prosperity and happiness in their lives.