Why We Celebrate Chhath Pooja?

 Chhath Pooja a Great Festival of India.

CHHATH POOJA

Chhath Puja is one of India's oldest, most popular festivals. It is especially celebrated in northern and eastern states. These include Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal. The festival is for the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya (Mother Shashti). It thanks them for sustaining life on Earth. Chhath Puja is unique. Its rituals involve strict discipline, fasting, and offerings to the sun at dawn and dusk. This four-day festival is a time of deep devotion. It's both a religious event and a social, cultural bonding time.

Significance of Chhath Puja

In Hinduism, the Sun is the source of all energy and life. People say that worshipping it during Chhath brings prosperity, health, and happiness. Chhath Maiya, or Goddess Usha, is the dawn. People worship her for their family's well-being. People say that Chhath Puja purifies the mind, body, and soul. It helps devotees find spiritual fulfillment.

The festival shows a bond between humans and nature. It stresses the need to conserve natural resources, like water bodies. They are key to Chhath rituals.

The Four Days of Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja lasts four days. Each day has strict rituals to follow. These rituals often occur near a riverbank or pond. They complete the worship of the Sun at a clean water body.

1. Nahay Khay (Day 1)

The first day of Chhath Puja is called Nahay Khay, or 'bath and eat.' Devotees believe a morning dip in a holy river or clean water body purifies the soul. After bathing, they prepare a simple, vegetarian meal. It usually consists of rice, chana dal (Bengal gram lentils), and pumpkin. They eat it as 'prasad.' This begins the fast for the festival.

2. Lohanda and Kharna (Day 2)

The second day is Lohanda and Kharna. Devotees fast all day, not even drinking water. In the evening, they prepare a meal that includes kheer (a rice pudding made with jaggery), roti, and fruits. People offer this meal, called Prasad, to the gods and later consume it to break the fast. After the evening prayer, the 36-hour nirjala vrat (fast without water) begins. It is the most rigorous part of the Chhath Puja.

3. Sandhya Arghya (Day 3)

The third day, known as Sandhya Arghya, is the most significant day of the Chhath Puja. Devotees, still fasting without water, gather at riverbanks. They pray to the setting Sun, Sandhya. The evening Arghya involves standing in waist-deep water and making offerings. These include fruits, flowers, and thekua (a traditional sweet). The entire family participates in this ritual, which is a sight of immense devotion and unity.

4. Usha Arghya (Day 4)

People offer prayers to the rising Sun on the final day of Chhath Puja, called Usha Arghya. Devotees gather at the riverbank before dawn and offer the morning Arghya to the Sun as it rises. This marks the end of the 36-hour-long fast. After praying, they break their fast by eating the prasad and sharing it with others. The festival ends on a joyful note. We wish for prosperity, peace, and health.

Rituals and Offerings

The rituals of Chhath Puja carry profound symbolism. They represent devotion, purity, and discipline. Here are the primary offerings made during the festival:

1. Arghya (Offering): A key part of the ritual involves making offerings to the Sun. These include water, milk, fruits, and sweets placed in a bamboo basket. Thekua, a traditional sweet made of wheat flour, jaggery, and ghee, is the main prasad of Chhath Puja.

2. Soop and Daura: During the Arghya, the devotees hold the offerings in a Soop (a bamboo tray) and Daura (a bamboo basket). Artisans weave these by hand with intricate patterns, symbolizing humility and devotion.

3. Kosi Ritual: The night before the final Arghya, five oil lamps are lit under a sugarcane canopy. This is for the Kosi ritual. This and the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and ether) please Chhathi Maiya.

Importance of Environmental Awareness

A unique aspect of Chhath Puja is its focus on cleanliness and sustainability. Devotees keep the areas around the water bodies clean during the rituals. Many environmentalists see it as a way to raise awareness. It is about conserving rivers, ponds, and other natural resources. Today, eco-friendly celebrations attract significant attention. They urge using biodegradable materials like bamboo and clay, not plastic.

Mythological Background of Chhath Puja

There are several mythological stories associated with the origins of Chhath Puja:

1. Ramayana: It says Lord Rama and Sita did Chhath Puja after returning to Ayodhya from 14 years of exile. During Kartik Shukla Paksha (when they celebrate Chhath), they fasted and prayed to the Sun God.

2. Mahabharata: Another legend traces the origins of Chhath Puja to the Mahabharata. People say that Draupadi, the Pandavas' wife, performed Chhath Puja. She sought blessings to restore their kingdom and for her family's well-being. With her deep devotion, she pleased the Sun God, who granted her wishes.

3. Karna: One of the most famous myths associated with Chhath is the story of Karna, the son of the Sun God and Kunti. People knew Karna for his valor and generosity, and he would offer daily prayers to his father, the Sun. People believe that Karna started the Chhath Puja rituals. They began the tradition of sun worship in Hindu culture.