Chhath is a festival committed to worshiping the Sun god and his beloved wife Usha. The sole purpose of this special day is to thank god for supporting life on our planet and seek blessings from the holy Sun god.
Sun is significant in healing several health conditions like progress, longevity, prosperity, positivity, and well-being. People follow a meticulous routine that lasts for four days. The ritual focuses on fasting, offering prayers to the rising and setting sun, meditation, and holy bathing all while standing in the water.
This prominent festival of the South has another importance of Chhath Puja. In an agricultural country like ours, we celebrate in the form of a post-harvest festival. People show gratitude for a good harvest in the coming year as the season ends.
A key part of history states that Chhath is one of the oldest rituals as jotted down in mythological scriptures. Even the Rigveda includes hymns with prayers of worship to Lord Surya. Similarly, Chhath has also made a mark on the pages of Mahabharata and Ramayana. Also, in the holy Ramayana, it is believed Lord Rama and Sita exercised this ceremony after their return from 14 years of exile.
Along with that, Chhath has a major scientific implication. For instance, your body gets detoxified as you take dips in the water. While paying homage to Sun, it increases the natural flow of solar bio-electricity resulting in improved functionality of the human body. Not just that, this unique puja also kills harmful bacteria and gives your body a new head start before the coming winter season.
Now, let’s break down the celebratory days of this auspicious festival:
Day 1
Nahay Khay: On the first day, devotees take a dip in the River Ganga, Kosi, and Karnali. They then take holy water home and assemble their offerings to the Sun god. It is considered the most important part of the four-day-long festivities.
Day 2
Lohanda or Kharna: The second day of the Sun festival means fasting for the whole day and ending the fast sometime after sunset. Devotees arrange offerings like bananas, rice, and kheer for the family after wholeheartedly praying to the Sun and the Moon. After taking the prasad, you have to start another fast for 36 hours, and that too without water.
Day 3
Sandhya Arghya (evening offerings): The third day of Chhath means to observe fast without consuming water for the entire day. People dedicate their time to preparing the needful offerings which are then kept in a bamboo tray. The prasad includes coconut, thekua, banana, and many other seasonal fruits. To cleanse their body, devotees flock around the banks of rivers or ponds. As part of the final rite, they offer araghya to the setting sun.
Day 4
Bihaniya Arghya: Honoring the last day of this grand occasion, devotees gather around the bank of the River or any water body to extend their prayers and prasad to the rising Sun. Finally, the devotees are at liberty to break their fast. However, they are only allowed to eat ginger and sugar or other local products. That brings the end of this highly cultural festival rejoiced by the Madesh community.
Overall, Chhath puja is considered to be an environment-friendly Hindu festival requiring no form of idol worshiping. Throughout history, Surya (Solar Deity) is regarded as a prominent natural force worshipped by humans. As it has its relationship with harvest, humans also acknowledge their connection and identity with nature.
This gender-neutral festival where both men and women can perform the function has the utmost spiritual, cultural, and social association.
