As the festival of light is about to end in India and Indians start to think the festival season is over, Chhath Puja presents itself with its full glory. A traditional Indian festival, Chhath Puja holds a special place in the hearts of millions of Indian women. It's a celebration that’s dedicated to the mighty Sun God and his wife Usha. It has been passed down through generations among women in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Celebrated 6 days after Diwali or on the 6th day in the month Kartika, it’s a 4-day long celebration when women follow strict fasting, pray to the Sun and bathe in the river.
Today, we'll delve deep into the Chhath Puja significance, explore its elaborate rituals, and understand what to do and what not to do during the puja.
Image Credit:- Jagran
What is Chhath Puja?
Being a land of festivals, India has no shortage of festivals to celebrate 33 crore gods and goddesses. One such Hindu festival that is celebrated with devotion and fervour in India is Chhath Puja or Chhath. Dedicated to worshipping the Sun, this puja is an occasion to seek blessings from him for a good and prosperous life. The term "Chhath" signifies the number six, and this festival is observed on the sixth day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartika. Indian women during this time show off their gratitude for life and all the good things they have received and pray to the Sun God to keep showering blessings on them.
Significance of Chhath Puja/Why Chhath Puja is Celebrated?
Being an ancient celebration, it’s believed that Chhath Puja has been celebrated in India since the Vedic period. Numerous stories have been associated with this puja. One such popular story involves Karna. Many believe he was the one who started Chhath Puja. Karna was the king of Anga Desh, modern-day Bhagalpur in Bihar. It’s also believed that both Draupadi and Sita earned the blessings of Surya Devta since they started performing Chhath Puja.
It’s true that the Sun gives energy to the world and makes possible the birth of life. Without the warmth of the Sun, life on Earth will come to a standstill position. On the day of Chhath Puja, women thank the Sun God for his power and sustaining life.
However, one amazing and unknown fact about Chhath Puja is that it is celebrated twice a year, once in Chaitra (Chaiti Chhath), and once in Kartik. Though women take the lead during the Chhath Puja celebration, men also participate in the puja.
Image Credit:- The Indian Express
Vidhi Of Worshiping on Chhath Puja
The four-day-long Chhath Puja is known for its elaborate rituals. The celebration follows as:
- It begins on the first day of the festival, known as Nahaay Khay. From the name, it’s pretty simple to understand that on this day, the celebration is all about bathing and cleaning the entire house. It’s the day when worshippers narrate Chhath Puja vrat katha to appease the Sun god. After bathing, women start their fast by having a prasad of bottled gourd and rice served to the god.
- On the second day, the devotees refrain from having a drop of water the entire day. Also known as Lohanda or Kharna, this day ends with a plate of jaggery kheer and roti after a day-long fast. Women also participate in Chhath Puja geet to recall the story behind this puja and pay respect to the nature and its elements that influence our lives so heavily.
- Being the main puja day, the third day holds the most significance to worshippers who celebrate Chhath Puja. Chhath Puja means more than a fast, it’s a day that begins with the preparation of a bamboo basket that contains fruits and thekua. As the day proceeds and the Sun is about to set, the worshipper with her family visits a nearby water body or river to worship the setting sun. The day ends with folk songs and Sandhya Arghya or evening puja to the Sun God.
- The fourth day is all about witnessing the sunrise sitting at a river bank and offering morning arghyas to the Sun while being in water with sauri. The 36-hour-long fast ends on this day with ginger water. Now the worshippers have Paran, the first food after this long fast. And with this, Chhath Puja comes to an end for the year.
Chhath Puja is a festival that connects humans with nature, brings families and communities together, and helps worshippers learn the true meaning of dedication and devotion.
Image Credit:- Prabhat Khabar
Do’s & Don’ts For Chhath Puja
As with any religious celebration, Chhath Puja has its set of do's and don'ts. If you are not aware of them, stick to the guidelines mentioned below:
Dos:
- Take a holy dip in a sacred river, if possible.
- Maintain cleanliness and purity throughout the festival rituals
- Respect and follow the traditional rituals.
- Offer Prasad and Arghya with devotion.
- Take a bath before you perform any puja rituals
- Wear clean, new clothes during Chhath Puja Surya Arghya
- Take blessings of elders at the end of the celebration
Don'ts:
- Consume non-vegetarian food or alcohol during the festival.
- Engage in negative or impure thoughts.
- Disrespect the environment; throwing puja materials here and there
- Touching puja materials with dirty hands or without bathing
- Wearing unwashed clothes during puja
- Performing puja rituals without bathing
- Allowing kids or others to touch or take a bite of puja prasad without the worshipper
Chhath Puja is a celebration that brings people close. The puja helps us understand how the Sun influences our lives and how we all will be lifeless without it. Marked by strict fasts and elaborate puja rituals, Chhath Puja reminds us of our connection with the environment and the need to preserve it for future generations. So, as the Sun God's blessings illuminate our lives, let us value how each Indian festival is different from each other yet does not fail to bind us together.
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