Chhath Puja: Worshipping the Sun God
Celebrated in Bihar and its neighbouring states like Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, Chhath is one of the major Hindu festivals in India. Revering the Sun God, the devotees suggest prayer to the supreme power for taking care of every living being. During Chhath festival, the entire of Bihar engages in the adore of the Sun God and, believe it or not, the scene is visually phenomenal! Here are a few things that you need to learn about this Chhath celebration:
What is Chhath?
Chhath is a festival for showcasing reverence to the Sun God, who sustains life on earth. With this festival, people, especially the women in Bihar put forward their offerings before the Sun God. In addition to this, prayers are also suggested for the well being and prosperity of family members.
History of Chhath and Sun Adore
There are many stories about the origin of Chhath festival in India and among them the most popular ones are that Chhath Puja in Bihar was commenced by the Dwipi-origin Brahmins. The legend has it that King Janaka of Nepal invited Brahmins to perform the Puja of the Sun God. It is believed that the Brahmins derived energy from the sun while they were on quick. So, one can conclude that the religious significance of Chhath Puja is that Sun has the power to cure various ailments and ensure longevity of life.
Another belief surrounding the origin of Chhath Puja is that Queen Draupadi (one of the principal characters from the epic Mahabharata), the wifey of the Pandavas observed a quick for the bliss of Lord Surya. According to a legend while the Pandavas were in exile, a large number of hermits visited them. As per the custom-made, the Pandavas had to feed the hermits but they did not have adequate food. Thus, Draupadi observed a swift and pleaded to the Sun God after which their problem was solved. It is also believed that later the Pandavas also fasted and suggested prayer to Lord Surya to regain their kingdom.
Yet another version regarding the origin of Sun Idolize comes from Karna, who is believed to be the son of Lord Surya. Karna ruled Anga Desh, which is present day Bhagalpur district of Bihar.
Chhath Celebration
The festival is celebrated after Diwali and usually falls in the month of October and November; this period is also known as the Shukla Paksha. For the Chhath Puja two thousand fourteen dates are October twenty seven – October thirty as it is three-day festival. Chhath is generally observed by married woman or widows who quick (abstaining from water and food for three days) for the well-being of their children. It has been noticed that boys these days also observe a swift on this auspicious occasion.
Chhath is celebrated twice in a year i.e during the summer (After Holi) and during winter (After Diwali). Chhath Puja observed in summer is called Chaiti, while the one held in winter is known as Kartik Chhath. During the celebration of Chhath, Lord Sun is suggested prayers twice a day i.e. during sun dawn and before sun set. The very first day is called Nahay Khay; the 2nd day is known as Lohanda and Kharna; the third day is Shashthi, which is the day of Chhath Puja and the fourth day is called as Usha Arghaya. Here are the details of the rituals performed on each day:
Day 1: Nahay Khay
On the very first day of the festival, people observing the swift, take a bath in the sea. The food is ready in unspoiled ghee without the use of garlic and onions. The very first day is also called Kaddu Bhat because rice (bhat) is ready with dal and vegetables.
Day Two: Lohanda/ Kharna
Women observe quick till evening and perform rituals across the day. In the evening, the women break their prompt and savour the taste of Kheer, Puri and fruits. After the 2nd day is over a thirty six hours swift is observed by the women who are called Parvaitin.
Day Three: Chhath
The third day is the day of Chhath, and the women observing rapid on this day prepare delicacies that will be used to suggest to the sea in the evening. The Parvaitin (woman on prompt) dresses like a bride for the Chhath Puja.
Day Four: Paarun/Usha Arghaya
On this last day of the festival, early morning offerings to the Sun God are made; this ritual is known as the Bihaniya Aragh ar.
Chhath Puja Delicacies
Along with the Puja suggested to Lord Surya, food is a crucial part of Chhath. Several mouth watering dishes are ready during this four-day festival amongst which Thekua (dishes ready using flour and sugar), Puri (Ready using flour and black cumin seeds), Kheer (ready with rice along with jaggery, milk and dry fruits) and Pua or Malpua (made with plain flour, jaggery, suji and milk) are the major delicacies of Chhath Puja.
Chhath Puja: More than Just a Religious Festival
India is a land of diversity and religion is one of them; however, festivals are the single factor that unites people in the country. Not only Chhath but several other festivals like Diwali, Holi and Christmas give people the chance to savour the sweet taste of religion, get soaked in colours of happiness and light up the life of each other by sending gifts, forgiving and lending a helping palm. The social significance of Chhath Puja is also the same; today women and dudes alike observe the quick not only for asking Lord Surya the health of their kids and family but also the prosperity of the country and its citizens. It brings people in ideal unison and endows them with the responsibility of passing this age-old tradition to coming generations.
About Nidhi Singh
From the Lake District, Nainital, Nidhi Singh is a well traveled writer whose love for nature can be seen in her writings. She loves to trek and love nature and portrait photography. Nidhi has covered most of the valleys along the foaming flows of Jammu & Kashmir and aspire to cover all major trekking routes of Ladakh and Uttarakhand. She also takes keen interest in different cultures and traditions of the world and likes collecting mementos. With her flair for writing and individual travelling practices, she offers vividly descriptive write ups.