Chhath Puja: A festival

Worship to Surya( sun)

Chhath puja is a festival of religious and cultural importance. In the Vedas, the Sun God is called the soul of Earth. As all of us know the Chhath puja is the most popular festival of Bihar, UP, Jharkhand, Medesh of Nepal. Even in America, Uk and other countries, this festival is celebrated by Indian origin people and Indians who are living there. This festival or puja is celebrated by Hindu. Chhath puja is usually dedicated to Surya( Sun) and Sasthi Devi(Chhathi Maiya).

It is believed that Chhathi Maiya fulfils the wishes of devotees. In Chhath, there is combined worship of both the power along with the Sun.

This puna is celebrated for four days. This puja is celebrated after six days of the Diwali festival.

Chhath puja is an ancient Hindu festival in which, Lord Sun and Chhathi Maiya are worshipped, as it is believed that worshipping them has spiritual and health benefits.

People are celebrating this festival with full enthusiasm and joy.

In this year 2021 Chhath puja is celebrating on the 10th and 11th November. So, today is the last day of this festival.

Chhath puja is celebrated for four days as:

1) First day ( Nahaye khaye) —in this day after bathing, the house is cleaned and food kept in front of God.

2) Second day( kharna) – on this day devotees keep fast the whole day. At the end of the day, the devotees can eat fruits and chapati etc.

3) Third day( Sandhya Arghya)— on this day, the Arghya is offered to the Sun. In the evening, a bamboo basket is decorated with fruits, thakua and rice laddoos. This has to offer an Arghya to the Sun with the families. After the worship of God, the Chhathi Maiya song is sung at the night by devotees and families.

4) Fourth day( Usha Arghya)— it is occurring in the morning offered an Arghya to the Sun God. The devotees stand in the water either Pond or River and offer an Arghya to the rising Sun.

After worship, the devotees come back home and break the fasting by drinking juice, eating a little prasad and raw milk etc. After worshipping, the family members and friends come back home with all puja items by carrying either on head or rickshaw and bicycles.

Thus, Chhath puja is not just a festival, it is a Carnival of joy and love blended with devotion and holiness that brings families and friends together.