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Chhath, the great festival of folk faith, concludes today. This festival, celebrated for the past three days with the offering of prayers to the rising sun, concludes today. In most places, sunrise has already occurred, so devotees are offering prayers. Crowds of devotees have gathered at the ghats. In some places, sunrise has already occurred, while others are awaiting the first rays of the sun. Devotees will wade waist-deep in water to offer prayers to the sun, after which the fast will conclude with the offering of Thekua Prasad.
A flood of faith surges at every ghat
This four-day festival began with “Nahay-Khaay” on October 25th and concludes today, October 28th. From Ranchi to Patna, and from Gorakhpur to Delhi, Chhath devotees have gathered along the banks of the ghats. Auspicious songs have been sung throughout the night. The ghats are a sight to behold. Earlier on Monday, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar participated in the Chhath festival by offering prayers to the setting sun with his family members at his official residence on Ek Aney Marg. Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary participated in the puja at his ancestral home in Tarapur, Munger district, and offered prayers to the setting sun.
Chhath in mythological beliefs:
Rama worshipped the Sun after returning from Lanka. Karna was born through worship of the Sun God.
Draupadi performed Chhath Puja during the Pandavas’ exile, and the Sun God gave Draupadi the Akshaya Patra.
The Markandeya Purana provides the ritual of offering prayers to the Sun, and the Srimad Bhagavatam describes the Chhath fast tradition.
The Rig Veda describes the story of Usha and Pratyusha, the Sun’s wives.
The significance of the Chhath festival:
The Sun, his wives Pratyusha and Usha, and his sister Shashthi are worshipped. Offering prayers is believed to alleviate life’s troubles. Goddess Shashthi, the Sun God’s sister, is known as Chhathi Maiya. Shashthi is the goddess who protects children.
It is believed that nature is divided into six parts, and the sixth part is worshipped as the Mother Goddess. Chhathi Maiya is the mental daughter of Lord Brahma. In Sanatan Dharma, offering Arghya to the rising Sun is also a tradition.
During Chhath festival, offering Arghya to the setting Sun is also considered auspicious. The offering of Arghya to the setting Sun brings blessings from Surya and Pratyusha. The offering of Arghya to the rising Sun brings blessings from Surya and Usha. During Chhath Puja, the devotee observes a 36-hour fast without water. The fast is broken after the Usha Arghya. The fast is broken with Thekua Prasad.
The biggest celebration of the worship of nature
This festival is celebrated on the sixth day of Kartik Shukla Paksha (Shishthi) and six days after Diwali. On this day, devotees worship Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya and seek blessings for the happiness and prosperity of their families and children. On the first day of the festival, devotees bathe in rivers and ponds, including the Ganges, as part of the ritual of “Nahay-Khaay.” On the second day, a Nirjala fast is observed, and in the evening, worship is performed by offering prayers to the Sun and Moon. The third day is called “Pehla Arghya” or “Sandhya Arghya,” when family members go to the river bank and offer Prasad and Arghya. The festival concludes on the fourth and final day with offerings to the rising Sun.
