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Chhath or Dala Chhath
Chhath is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of the
Lord Sun (सूर्य) It is mainly celebrated in northeast region of India in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar
Pradesh, some parts of Chhattisgarh., Jharkhand and Terai, Nepal.
Chhath is celebrated twice a year for four days each once in summer (May-July), called the Chaiti Chhath and the second time in winter
(Octoberr-November) which is known as Kartik Chhath.
The Chhath denotes the number 6 in Hindi and the festival begins on the sixth day of the Hindu lunar month of
Kartik (October-November). The festival of Chhath begins a week after
Diwali and extends to four days.
The Chhath puja
celebration is made compulsorily at bank of river, pond, lake, canals etc* with great
rejoicement. used. The devotees sing folk songs in groups. The observing fast for complete 3 days and strict rules of worship
demonstrate the religious sentiment, high faith and discipline in people of the region..
The folk songs sung on the eve of Chhath shows the culture, social structure, mythology and history of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. |
A sea of humanity offered
“arghya” to the Sun God at sunrise on various ghats of River Ganga (गगां)
on October 26, 2009 at Patna, bringing an end to the four-day Chhath festival.
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Chhath is a festival dedicated to the Sun God.
The worshiper after ritual bathing, worship the Sun God, usually on the bank of a river or a water tank.
Since Chhath is dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, so it is also known as Surya Shashti. Chhatt is celebrated as thanks to the Sun for
providing the necessities of life on earth, and also for fulfilling particular wishes.
Mythology
The ancient Mahabharata there is a references of worshipping of sun by Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas. She believed that by
worship of Sun-God helps to cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and ensure
longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders. It is
also believed that Chhath was started by Karna, the son of Surya, a great warrior and fought
against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War. |
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The four days of Festival:
The festival of Chhath is marked by celebrations and rituals that last four days.
First day (called Naha-Kha ) : The devotees bathe in the holy river Ganges to wash away their sins.
On this day they also clean their homes thoroughly.
Second day (called Kharna): The devotees observe a fast for the whole day, which is broken in late evening, after performing the puja
at home. Generally the devotees offer kheer and fruit to Sun God and then the food is shared with family and friends.
Third day:: On this day the the devotees go to a riverbank or pond with the Prasad prepared at home and the Prasad is offered to the setting
sun. After return at home they worship Agni with earthen lamps, and baskets filled with prasad.
Fourth day: On the final day of the festivities the
devotees with family and friends go to the riverbank. Prasad is offered to the rising sun. The devotees
is then break their fast and the prasad is distributed among all the people. |
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Chhath
Puja in the country
Chhath Puja in Bihar: Large numbers of people in Patna thronged the banks of the Ganga
river celebrate the festival Chhat Puja or worship of sun god.
on Friday, the 23rd October. The festival is especially significant for married women who observe a two-day fast and offer prayers standing
waist- deep in water for at least two hours and offer fruits and flowers to Surya, the Sun God. People go to bathing ghats on river banks
with traditional music and pay obeisance to both the rising and the setting sun during the festival.
Chhath Puja in Delhi: The Chhath Festival is basically a major festival of Bihar, but is celebrated with equal devotion in Delhi as well. For Chath celebrations in New Delhi, several ghats
are reserved at the river Yamuna in the city. The puja takes place at these ghats only. Performed both by men as well as by women, the puja preparations start with the end of
Diwali (दीपावली ).
Chhath Puja in Mumbai: There are nearlyr 10 Lakhs people of Bihar
and Uttar Pradesh in Mumbai. They celeberated Chhath puja at
JUHU BEACH.
Other states: Chhath festival is celebrated in the northeast region of
India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Chhattisgarh. Even in Tamil
Nadu, the migrants from the north celebrate the Chhath festival.. |
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