Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja
Chhath puja spans over four days. The worship starts with Nahaa Khaa – on the first day of wherein devotees take a dip in water, preferably in river or canal and take holy water with them for performing other rituals and offering at home.
Kharna which is the second day and devotees keep fast for whole day and break their fast in the evening after worship of sunset and offering the home made prasad (Kheer, puri) to the Sun and eat the same Prasad at the end of the worship and start main vrat (fasting) of 36 our without a drop of water.
Sandhya Arghya (evening offering) is the most important day of the four days Chhath Puja. It starts with preparing prasad by devotee who have the fast. In the evening on the same day all family member, friends along with devotees go to the Ghat to perform the worship of sunset. Devotees offer the araghya including all self-made ‘prasad’ and natural ‘prasad’ like fruit, vegetables, milk to the setting sun by standing in waist level water. At the end of the evening puja everyone returns home except some devotees family who have some mannat to stay till parana.
Usha Arghya (morning offering) and Parana is held on the last day of the four days chhath puja. In the early morning again all family members, friends along with devotees go to the Ghat to perform the worship of rising sun. Again devotees make offerings including all self-made prasad and natural prasad like fruit, vegetables, milk to the rising sun by standing half body in the water. After end of the morning arghya devotee break their 36 hour long dedicated fast with warm water or tea.
This is the only festival in India where an idol is not worshipped and people pay obeisance
to the rising sun instead; a pre-Vedic festival that originated at least 2300 years ago. This is
a festival where the intervention of a priest is not required. Despite its primitive origins and
its association with a sizable section of the population, the Chhath, as the festival is
popularly known, has remained out of the national consciousness for a long time.
The Chhath Puja which is celebrated primarily in the state of Bihar and
UttaPradesh in Bharat and in the Madhesh region of Nepal revolves around
nature and is concerned with worshiping Sun as the primar source of
energy response bodies the first rays of Sun in the morning while
Goddess
Pratyusha embodies the last rays of Sun in the evening.
At the metaphorical level,Chhath Puja can be viewed as a reminder
to people of the need to imbibe the qualities of Sun. Sun never
loses its essence and the permanence of its glory is symbolized
by its magnificence and venerability both during dawn and dusk.
Sun is thus revered and worshiped irrespective of its position,
that is, we offer prayers both to the rising sun as well as the
setting sun. Similarly, the festival was intended to be a reminder to
humans, of the purpose and value of life as well as the need to move
towards the ultimate goal in every phase of life –Self Realizationible
for Sustaining all life forms on earth.
Chatth Puja is performed to express gratitude to Sun God Surya
along with Goddess Usha and Goddess Pratyusha.