Importance of Indian festival “Chhath Puja”
Chhath Puja is an obsolete and four-day-long Hindu festival which is dedicated to Sun God who is supposed to be the source of all powers and God Sun’s sister Chhathi Devi who is the source of health, wealth, and happiness. The word “Chhath” means six, accordingly, the festival is celebrated two times in a year, one is on the sixth day of the month Chaitra(Chait Shukla Chhath) and the second on the sixth day of the month of Karthika(Karthik Shukla Chhath). Therefore, the festival is called Chhath. Now, It devoted to several countries, but it is unique to India consisting of the states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal.
It celebrates by observing fast and offering prayers to the Sun God by taking a dip in the river and express their gratitude towards Lord Surya and perform important rituals over a for a span of four days and pay tribute to Surya Devata and thank him for showering his gracious rays on the Earth.
On the first day of the Puja is assign to as Nahay Khay. On this day the family prepares a traditional meal like Thekua, kheer, rice Ladoo, and fruits and serves it as Bhog in the afternoon.
The second day starts of puja, women observe Nirjala Vrata from sunrise to sunset. They open their fast only in the evening after worship the sun during the sunset. Serve sweets, mainly rice kheer as prasad.
On the third day ritual for the Chhathi puja is called Sandhya Arghya, observed as the most important day of the festival. On this day, devotees observe a day-long fast and break it only the being next day after sunrise.
Come to the end and fourth day after devotees perform the Usha Arghya that believed to be the associate of the Sun God. People perform the rituals and puja during the sunrise time and then break their fast.
Due to the COVID pandemic, on this year of festive spirit as celebrations would be low-key and gatherings limited. Chhath is one of the biggest festivals in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and the neighboring country, Nepal. This year Diwali is also affected due to COVID.
