India has always been the center of attraction for it's wide range of cultures , for the prosperity it keeps geathering even after witnessing so many invasions, the colors that blooms in it's different regions through different seasons and so many festivals that keep bringing people together despite the differences of opinion and culture. Doesn't matter which religion they follow they still get connected through the food , music , rituals and togetherness through the joys and colors that these festivals bring in our life .
One such festivals is Chhath Parv holding great significance since ages and keeping it's roots strong in the purvanchal region , specially in Indian states Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand but now growing it's popularity through entire nation .
In known culture Chhath Parv celebrated twice in a year just like Navratri Parv , in Chaitra month with which hindu new year begins and in Kartik Month . But Kartik Chhath holds more significance and celebrated with rather huge enthusiasm where people worship the Sun as God of prosperity and beginner of new life along with Shashthi Devi as protector of new lives and children and giver of good health and long life It's a Four day celebration begins after 3rd day of Diwali utsav on Chaturthi tithi and concludes on seventh day morning After the Usha Ardhya Pooja .
Shashthi Devi (Chhath Maiyya)
Also known as Chhathi Maiya, the sixth form of Devi Prakriti and Lord Surya's sister is worshipped as the Goddess of the chhath festival.
Shashthi or Shashti (Sanskrit: षष्ठी, Bengali: ষষ্ঠী, Ṣaṣṭhī, literally "sixth") is a Hindu goddess, venerated in Nepal and India as the benefactor and protector of children. She is also the deity of vegetation and reproduction and is believed to bestow children and assist during childbirth. She is often pictured as a motherly figure, riding a cat and nursing one or more infants. She is symbolically represented in a variety of forms, including an earthenware pitcher, a banyan tree or part of it or a red stone beneath such a tree; outdoor spaces termed shashthitala are also consecrated for her worship.
षष्ठांशां प्रकृते: शुद्धां सुप्रतिष्ठाण्च सुव्रताम् ।
सुपुत्रदां च शुभदां दया रूपां जगत्-प्रसूम् ।।
Chhath Puja, a grand four-day festival, begins each year on the sixth day of the lunar month of Kartik.The festival begins with 'Nahay Khay,' where devotees cleanse their homes and prepare for the festival with pure vegetarian meals. Only rock salt is used, and garlic and onion are avoided to maintain purity in the home.
On the day of Nahay-Khay, those observing the Chhath fast eat satvik food. Traditionally, foods that reduce hunger and thirst are consumed on this day. Vegetables are prepared without onion and garlic, and cooking gourd and pumpkin is especially significant. Chickpea lentils with rice are a common meal. Pumpkin is particularly favoured for its hydrating properties, which help devotees sustain their energy during the long fast.
Kharna' marks the second day, a day of fasting and purification. Devotees prepare and consume a prasad made from jaggery and rice in the evening, breaking their day-long fast. Following this, a strict 36-hour waterless fast commences, where it is traditional to use a clay stove and mango wood for cooking prasad.
On this day, devotees observe a day-long fast without water, known as nirjala vrat, to cleanse themselves physically and spiritually. The fast is broken in the evening after offering prayers to the Sun God.
The Prasad is first offered to the deities and then shared with family members and neighbors. The simplicity and purity of the food symbolize the devotee’s surrender to nature and the divine forces.
Kharna holds deep spiritual significance as it is believed to cleanse one's mind, soul, and body, helping devotees connect with the cosmic energies of the Sun. The strict fasting and prayers reflect the devotion and humility with which the worshippers seek blessings for health, prosperity, and well-being.
On third day evening devotees offer 'Sandhya Arghya' to the setting sun. They prepare special offerings like 'Thekua' and seasonal fruits and perform the ritual by offering milk and water to the Sun God.
Thekua - Thekua (also spelt as Thokwa or Thekariis), also known as Khajuria, Tikari and Thokni, is an Indo-Nepalese cookie popular in Southern Nepal and the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Thekua is a revered prasada, offering to god, during Chhath puja. The main ingredients of thekua are wheat flour, Jaggery, cardamom. mixing them together dough is made and different shapes are given to it . Thekua symbolises devotion, purity, and the spirit of Chhath Puja. Its deliciously rustic flavour and long shelf life make it a favourite for sharing with friends and family.
It is then kept together in Soop Tokri with all the seasonal fruits , flowers, Sugarcane, sweets and decorated along with pirakiya . Devotees then leave for nearby waterbodies mainly rivers , (among these too ganga and yamuna river hold great significance) keeping all these things on head as symbol of devotion and Ardhya is given by people observing fast to setting sun standing inside water and thus complete the third day fasting of chhath .
This day is most important day in these four day festival as everyone in the family comes together and celebrate it . Sons and other people help the devotees observing Fast by helping in all the rituals. As this fast is observed mainly by mothers for the longevity and well being of their children, they help them in Ardhya Pooja .
This great festival has a tradition of worshiping both the Astachalgami Surya (the setting sun) as well as Udiyaman Surya (the rising sun) respectively on the sixth and seventh day of the Shukla Paksh of Kartik and Chaitra month. It ignores the saying that everyone bows to the rising sun.
In it's spiritual and much philosophical way this ritual signifies the importance of not only Rising Sun which marks the prosperity and new life with rays of positivity and light in world but also the same Sun which sets after keeping the world protected and nourished through the entire day and gives the promise to rise again next day bringing rays of happiness .
The festival concludes on November 8 with 'Usha Arghya,' where devotees offer prayers to the rising sun, seeking blessings for family peace, happiness, and protection.
Vratis standing in water, soups laden with Puja items kept nearby and crowds of devotees to help the fasts – together makes the atmosphere devotional.
The religious Significance
In “Rigved”, the world’s oldest scripture, there is a detailed description of the worship of the Sun for the salvation of sins. Like fire, He is considered to be the sustainer and direct deity of the world. There are 14 hymns available in this Holy book about the Sun. In the 49th hymn, Suryadev has been invoked to wish for wealth. According to the 50th hymn, “ Rising this day, O rich in friends, ascending to the loftier heaven, Surya remove my heart’s disease, take from me this my yellow hue.”
In Yajurveda, by saying “Chaksho Suryo Jayat”, the Sun is considered to be God’s eye. In the Chhandogya Upanishad, the Sun is described as Pranav and the benefit of getting a son has been told on his meditation. The Koshitiki Brahman describes the worship of the Sun by offering water and sandalwood with Ardhya. Along with this, there is also a mention of Sun worship in various other literatures. The famous “Surya Shatakam” was composed by Mayur, the court poet of the sixth century ruler Harshavardhan.
The source of Surya’s powers is his wives Usha and Pratyusha. In fact, Chhath Mahaparva is the combined worship of these two powers along with the Sun. We bow jointly to our adored God and Goddess by paying obeisance to the last ray of the Sun (Pratyusha) in the evening and the first ray of the sun (Usha) in the morning. The worship of mother power holds its own important place in the core of Indian culture. The value of maternal power can be seen in all the traditions of Shaivism, Vaishnav and Buddhist.
Chhath is unique as the only festival where devotees worship and offer prayers directly to the Sun, considered the soul of the universe. Hindu scriptures regard the Sun as the source of vitality and healing. Through Chhath Puja, devotees seek health, self-confidence, and spiritual fulfillment from the Sun.
Among the many fasts observed in the Sanatan Dharma, Chhath is the only such fast in which we worship the deity (Sun) whom we see every day directly and who is the promulgator of life on this earth. This most eco-friendly festival promotes casteless society and is the symbol of equality, fraternity, unity, and integrity.
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