The Festival of ‘Chhath Puja’ In India
The unity in diversity is the characteristic and hallmark of Indian culture but there is diversity in the Hindu community and religion. There are very few festivals which are celebrated in the length and breadth of India. One such festival is Chhath festival which is celebrated in Bihar, western UP, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and the Nepalese provinces of Madhesh and Lumbini. It is a four day festival dedicated to sun God and sun is worshipped and it is also celebrated to protect and conserve the environment and thus this festival is very important as nature is worshipped during the festival and so this festival has great significance for the nature and its various forms and manifestations. The auspicious four day festival of Chhath Puja is celebrated with much pomp and show in northern India and Nepal. The annual four day festival is right around the corner, and devotees are gearing up to celebrate the festival with pomp and gaiety. Chhath Puja also known as Surya Shashti, Chhath, Chhathi, Chhat, Chhathi, Chhath Parv, Dala Puja, Pratihar and Dala Chhath. Since Chhath is dedicated to sun God ,it God of energy and life. It is especially celebrated by the women flock and they observe complete fast which is rigorous and pray to Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya for their own and families as well as children’s welfare. Argya is also offered to Sun God and chhathi Maiya. Chhath Puja is celebrated after six days of Diwali on sixty day of the month of Kartik.
In fact the preparations for Chhath Puja are started a day after Diwali by beginning to eat only Satvik diet without onion and garlic.The meals are prepared most hygienically and the food is eaten only after taking bath. This year Chhath Puja was on October 30. It began with Nahay Khay on October 29, Chhath Puja and Usha Argya on October 31. Very rigorous and rituals are followed by the devotees who observe fast to please Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. There are many legends and stories associated with origins of Chhath Puja and some even find mention in Rig Veda.According to Hindu mythology , Draupadi and Pandavas used to observe the Chhath Puja to regain their Kingdom and resolve their issues. Another legend has it that Karna ,who was the son of Lord Surya and Kunti used to perform Chhath Puja .As already mentioned the devotees offer Argya and pray to Lord surya and Chhath Maiya during Chhat puja to receive their blessings for the prosperity and well being of the children and the whole family. Holy mantras from Rig Veda are chanted to please Lord Surya and Chhath Maiya.It is also said that the sages of the Vedic period used to perform Chhath Puja by exposing themselves to direct sunlight to gain energy from sun rays. Women generally observe 36 hour fast during Chhath Puja to gain blessings from Sun and Chhathi Maiya.The first day of Chhath is called Nahay Khay-devotees take bath in holy water like river Ganga ,women who observe fast eat a single meal And devotees prepare Prasad for Suya Bhagwan. The second and third days are Kharna and Chhath Puja women observe an arduous nirjala vrat during these days.
On the fourth day, women offer Argya to Sun God and Chhathi Maiya and seek their blessings.It is believed that the beginning of Chhath Puja had been from the Mahabharat Period.First of all Surya putur Karan had performed the Puja of Sun God.Karan was the true and staunch devotee of Sun God and he used to remain in water upto his back and used to give Argya to Sun God.The question arises why is the Puja of Chhath Maiya performed? Shastras say that Mata Chhathi is the Manas Putri of Lord Bhramah.Some also also believe that Chhath Maiya is the sister of Sun God.It is also believed that by performing Puja of Chhath Mayia one gets the blessing of long life. One gets child by performing the Puja of Chhathi Mayia. The sun is visible to every being and is the basis of life of all creatures on earth. Along with Sun God, Chhathi Maiya is also worshipped on this day.According to Vedic astrology ,Chhathi Maiya protects the children from diseases and problems and gives them long lives and good health.The festival of Chhath Puja is celebrated by men and women for long life of their children and prosperity in the family,this four day festival involves worshipping the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya .According to legends ,Chhati Maiya is an incarnation of one of the famous forms of goddess Durga ,Davi Katyayni ,who is worshipped on the sixth day of Navratri.She is also said to be the daughter of Lord Brahma,the creator of the world. The legend states that during the creation of the world,Lord Brahma divided himself into two parts ,one of male and another of female. The part which is divided into females became mother nature and she further divided herself into six parts, out of which the last part was full of motherly love for all beings and hence was called Shashti or Chhathi.Since Goddess Chhati or Chhathi Maiya is considered to be the epitome of motherly love, on the sixth day after the birth of a child, the goddess is worshipped and said to bless the child with good health, long life and success in later life. Another legand states her to be sister of Sun God and therefore ,in Chhath ,both Chhati Maiya and sun are worshipped.It is said that the festival of Chhath was introduced when king Priyavrat who was the son of first mam,Manu ,was blessed by Goddess Chhathi who then revived his dead child.In UP and Bihar there is special importance for Chhath Puja. Chhath is not only a festival but a great festival which is celebrated for four consecutive days. It starts with bathing and eating and comes to close with the offering Argya to the sun set and sun rise. This festival comes twice a year,once in the month of Chatira and then second time in Krtika.
The festival celebrated on the sixth day of Chaitra is called Chatie Chhath and thev festival celebrated on sixth day of Kartika is Known as Kartike Chhath.It is celebrated for family blessings and prosperity and for obtaining the fruits willed by the devotees. The festival of Chhath has a historical importance as well. It is believed that Lord Rama is associated with the inception of Chhath Puja. It is said that when Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya then he and his wife Sita observed a fast in honor of Sun god and broke it only with the setting sun. It is one such ritual which subsequently evolved in Chhath Puja. Now apart from the religious significance of thanking the Sun for providing us good life, there is some science too attached to rituals of this festival. The rituals demand to pray at the river bank or standing at the river bank for long hours and there is an explanation to it. The ultraviolet rays of the sun are at their lowest during sunrise and sunset and that is why the sun rays are most beneficial at these two times. These sun rays help in detoxifying the mind, body and soul by removing all negative energies. This is the only Hindu festival or perhaps the only festival in the world that signifies the rising and setting sun. The most unique feature of this Chhath Puja is that there is no idol worshipping unlike most of the festivals of Hindu religion. Some people amply opine that sun is necessary for the life of every creature on earth and this festival is a way to pay tribute to it irrespective of caste, creed, gender, race and social stigma. In brief Chhath Puja festival is the unique festival which is celebrated in north India and Nepal.
(Writer:- Vivek Koul)
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