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Chhath Puja, also known as Sun Shashthi is celebrated on Kartik Shukla Shashthi. This festival is celebrated after 6 days of Diwali and mainly celebrated in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand with great fanfare. On Chhath Puja, worshiping Sun God and Chhathi maiya helps you gain health, wealth and happiness. In the last few years, Chhath Pooja has got a special significance as a folk festival. This is the reason why the festival is celebrated with great pomp and show.
Significance of Chhath Puja & Chhathi Maiya
The Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun God. The sun is the god visible to every being, is the basis of life of all creatures on earth. Along with the Sun God, Chhathi Maiya is also worshipped on this day. According to Vedic Astrology, Chhathi maiya or Chhathi mata protects the offspring and provides longevity to them.
In the Hindu religion, the Shashthi Devi has also been known as Manas Daughter of Brahma ji. In the Puranas, she is also said to be the mother Katyayani, who is worshiped on Navratri on the Shashti date. Shashthi Devi is said to be Chhath Maiya in the local language of Bihar-Jharkhand.
History of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja is one of the oldest surviving festivals. It is widely believed that the rituals of this festival may predate ancient Vedic texts, as the Rigveda contains hymns worshipping Surya Devata and describes similar rituals.
The festival also finds mention in the Mahabharata. Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas was an ardent devotee of Surya Devata, who on the advice of sage Dhaumya performed similar rituals.
Another reason for celebrating this festival is the story of Shri Ram. According to tradition Shri Ram and Devi Sita had fasted together, worshipped Surya Devata and performed Chhath puja rituals on returning to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. Since then Chhath Puja became an important Hindu festival i.e. celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervour every year.
1. Day 1 is Nahay- Khay (Bathe and Eat)
Devotees wake up early and take a cleansing dip (a ceremonial bath) in the Ganga or nearby river. The house is cleaned and arrangements made for puja. Holy water of the Ganga is brought home to be used in preparation of food items (Prasad) for puja. Some observe full day fast while others take only one meal on this day. The ladies who observe the vrat (fast) are known as vratin. The food items for prasad typically include puri, kheer, kaddu-bhat, channa dal and bananas. The home esp. cooking area is kept very clean.
2. Day 2 is Lohanda and Kharna
On the second day of Chhath Puja, the vratin observe fast for the full day i.e. broken after carrying out a special puja of Surya Devata at sunset. This fasting is referred as ‘Kharna’.
“The whole day is spent preparing for the festival, shopping essentials like sugarcane, fruits and other things. Later in the evening, vrattis prepare special Prasad called Rasiao-kheer (a type of sweet dish with the help of jiggery, rice and milk) and chapattis. With these specially made Prasad and fruits like banana, radish, green ginger, bettle leaves and spices like black cardamom and cloves, Vrattis worship Chhathi Maiya and offer these Prasad. After puja the vratti breaks their fast by eating the Prasad and later on it is distributed among family and friends.” Source www.chhath.org
With the ceremonial breaking of the fast (vrata) after sunset, the Vratins go on a fast again without water for 36 hours i.e. after the 2nd day evening prasad (kheer).
3. Day 3 is Sandhya Arghya
This day is spent preparing prasad (offerings) at home. In the evening the vratins go to the river bank and makes an offering to the setting sun. Most vratins perform these rituals along with their friends and family members. At night, an exciting event of lighting the lamps of clay ‘diyas’ under the covering of five sugarcane sticks takes place on river banks. Diyas floating on the river look like numerous stars on the water. Thousands of devotees and tourists gather at river Ganga to witness this special ceremony.
4. Day 4 is Prayer of Surya
Devotees wake up at the crack of dawn, go to the riverbank before sunrise and offer bhorwa arghya (morning offerings) to the rising Sun. Devotees then worship Chhathi Maiya After offering prasad to all the deities, devotees break their fast by having ginger and water. This is followed by Chhath prasad. This marks the end of all the festivities of Chhath puja.
During the festivals ladies sing traditional Chhath songs. Music and singing calms and rejuvenates the mind.
Delhi is the capital city of Indian Republic and thus has a vibrant culture. This is pretty evident from the fact that various kinds of fairs and festivals are held almost every now and then. No matter what time of the year you visit Delhi; you will find some or other fair or festival being organized. Most of these fairs or festivals are organized to showcase either the Indian culture or its technological advancement. They are organized in various parts of the city and are attended by people coming from different backgrounds and strata. Thus, besides reflecting the cultural, scientific, educational advancement, the fairs and festivals of Delhi bring cohesion among the people.
The foremost and the torchbearer among them is India International Trade Fair (IITF), popularly known as trade fair in Delhi. The Delhi Trade Fair is normally organized in the month of November (14-27). This trade pulls crowd in millions and is arguably one of the largest fair in the world in terms of footfall volume. Besides showcasing products from nearly all the states in India, it has pavilion from nearly 100 countries. This is a one-stop destination to shop whatever you like, literally, from a thing as miniscule as a needle to a thing as gigantic as an Aircraft. Then there is Art and crafts fair that showcases the vivid art and craft of India. There are stalls from nearly all the states with special emphasis on the Tribal art and crafts, fighting the war against extinction.
