Chhath

About Chhath in brief

Chhath is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival historically native to the Indian subcontinent. The festival does not involve idolatry and is dedicated to worship the Chhathi Maiya and sun God Surya along with his consorts Usha and Pratyusha the Vedic Goddess of Dawn and Dusk respectively. Chhath Puja, also known as Sun Shashthi is celebrated after 6 days of Diwali and mainly celebrated in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand with great fanfare. It’s arguably one of few Hindu festivals that transcend the rigid caste system, which emerged in the post-Vedic period, to touch upon the ideas of \”equality, fraternity, unity and integrity.\’ The festival is also more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a presence. It is celebrated in all Northern regions and major Northern urban centers in India. In the last few years, ChhATH Pooja has got a special significance as a folk festival. This is the first day of the four-day festival, which starts with Shukla Chukla Saptami and ends with Kartik Chaturthi and Shashti Shaptami.

This year, the festival is observed by Biharis & Nepalese along with their diaspora. In India, it is celebrated on Kartik Shukleshthi, which is the last day of Di Wali. In Nepal, it’s celebrated on Shashtri, the second day of Navayani. In Bihar, the third day is the Chashthri and the fourth is the Kharoshthi. On this day, the devotees offer prasad and arghya to the setting and rising sun. This means that after bathing, the house is cleaned and food after keeping it in the front of the God is eaten to protect the mind from the vengeful tendency of the sun. On the fourth day, they offer the same Prasad to the sun and the last ray of the Sun in the evening are offered to both of them. This day is known as the first Chhathsthi of the festival and it is also the last Chathtsthi on Di Wani.