Source- myfayth.com
When the whole of India was done with the Dipawali and returned to work aftermath of Diwali, Northern most state of India, Bihar indulge in a grand celebration of Chhath puja. Every year after 6 days of Diwali Chhath use to be celebrated as the festival of Chhathi Maiya. Chhath is an ancient Hindu festival native to Bihar, eastern UP, Jharkhand, west Bengal, and some Nepalese Provence of Madhesh.
Chhath puja is dedicated to lord Surya the deity of the solar system. To show gratitude toward the sun, the universal energy source of the life system. Chhath is the only festival that worships both the rising and downing sun. It symbolizes that when something goes down it will rise again.
Significance
Chhath puja is basically to show gratitude toward the Surya, the centre of the life system on earth. Along with lord Surya, Chhathi Maiya is also worshipped in this festival. Chhathi Maiya is the sixth form of Devi Prakriti and the sister of lord Surya. Chhath is celebrated on the 6th day of the lunar month of Kartika.
The festival is celebrated over 4 days. They include holy baths, fasting, prayer offering, and evening and morning Aragh to setting and rising sun. Chhath is the festival of Bihar, but as people of Bihar are migrated all over India, you can see nowadays Chhath is celebrated over a different part of India. You can see millions of people celebrating Chhath in Delhi or Mumbai.
History
As per historians, chhath puja is very early from the Vedic period. At that time saints used to fast and then offer prayers to the god Surya. chhath has been mentioned in both the major epics of India. In Ramayana, when Rama and Sita return to Ayodhya and established their kingdom then after 6 days they kept fast and offer prayers to lord Surya for peace and prosperity of the kingdom. And in Mahabharata Kunti use to celebrate Chhath.
In some other accounts, Draupadi and Pandavas also offer prayers to lord Surya. It is believed that Karan is the son of Surya and he used to pray to Surya while submerged in water. Some other report says Chhath puja is started in Varanasi by the Gahadavala dynasty.
In a district of Bihar Munger, chhath is associated with a temple called Sitacharan (Sita’s footstep) temple. That temple is situated in the middle of the Ganga River in Munger. It is believed that Mata Sita performed her prayer in that particular palace.
Rituals and Traditions
Chhath puja is celebrated over four days and each day have very specific ritual and traditions.
Day 1: Nahaay Khaay
This is the first day of the festival. On this day devotees take a holy bath and from that time till the last day, everything around devotees must be clean and pure according to religious practice. Usually, devotees have to cook Lauki-Bhat (bottled gourd and rice) and serve the deity, this will initiate the festival and the fast of devotees.
Day 2: Kharna
Kharna is the second day of chhath festival. On this day devotees are not allowed to have a single drop of water. According to practice in the evening, they have to eat Khir (sweet rice).
Day 3: Sanjhka Aragh
Most of the third day spend in the preparation of food and prasad for the evening aragh. Thekua and laddo are the main foods that offer as prasad to the deity Surya. Usually, all the offerings are kept in a dawra (bamboo bucket). Dawra is carefully decorated using colored paper, thekua, laddo, and seasonal fruits.
In the evening people gather on the bank of the river, pound, or any large water body with their family. Usually, river banks are well decorated and local folk songs are sung. Children enjoy the evening and burst crackers. Devotees half-submerge into the water and offer aragh and prayer to the setting sun.
After returning from ghat, devotees perform a ritual called “kosi Bharai”. Where devotees make a Mandap using a bunch of sugarcane and light Diya’s under the Mandap and burnt the thekua and other offerings.
Day 4: Bhorka Aragh
On the last day, devotees have to offer prayer to the rising sun. So, on this day people gather at the bank of rivers and pound in the early morning before the sun rises. The same as evening aragh, devotees have to half-submerge in water and offer aragh and prayer to the rising sun. Devotees pray for the peace and prosperity of the family and loved ones. In the end, devotees break their fast with a little water and Parsad.
Conclusion
For Biharis, chhath is not just a festival but Mahaprava (grand festival). We have very different emotions about the chhath festival. Nowadays you can see chhath celebration not only in India but also in USA and UK. That show where we reached. Chhath allows us to show gratitude towards the centre of the solar system Surya, which is the single source of energy for earth’s life. Chhath also makes us aware of our environmental system.
Written by Sarfaraz Equbal
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