Ancient History and Its Importance of Chhath Puja;
- According to Our Ancient History, Chhath Puja is the oldest festival, possibly to have existed since the Ancient Vedas, because the Rigveda contains hymns to the Sun and rituals similar to what we observe during this festival in present days. Chhath puja is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival, is dedicated to solar deity Surya and Shashti Devi. Thanking them to let flourish life on earth also, as part of the tradition, women fast for the well-being of their children and the happiness of their families.
- These rites are also mentioned in the Mahabharata, where Draupadi is depicted performing similar rites. The Pandavas and Draupadi followed the Chhath rituals on the advice of wise Dhaumya. This Sun worship solved many of Draupadi’s problems and later helped the Pandavas reclaim their kingdom. In Mahabharata, the puja was performed by Kunti (mother of the Pandavas) after they escaped from Lakshagrih, on the banks on Ganga. The scientific or yogic history of this festival dates back to Vedic times, when scholars or rishis used this technique to go without food by absorbing energy from the sun’s rays.
- Another story says that Lord Krishna’s son Samb worshipped Lord Sun and was healed of Kusth disease. So being a devotee twelve places to worship Sun were established later according to Sun’s Rashi, Chakra, and Geometry. In Kashmir, another in Odisha and Gujarat, and the remaining nine are in Magadh. In ancient India, the name Magadh, which was the Centre of Indian politics for around 1000 years, was derived solely from worshipping Lord Sun.
- It is said that Mag Brahmins, Sun Worshippers, lived in Magadh above the Son River, to the south of the Ganga River, and to the south-west of the Chotanagpur Plateau. Therefore, the day associated with the Sun God, Bhanu Saptami, is considered auspicious in Magadh. And yes due to same reason nearby states of Bihar are more devoted to Sun and often visit this place.
Scientific Importance of Chhath Puja;
- There religious significance of thanking the Sun for giving us a happy and healthy life, and yes there are some sciences behind the rituals of this festivals. The rituals followed by praying at the river bank or standing at the river bank doing Namaskar. The ultraviolet rays of the sun are at their lowest during sunrise and sunset and that’s the time when the sun rays are most beneficial at these two times. These sun rays then help in detoxifying the mind, body, and soul by removing all negative energies.
- This puja involves fasting of devotees for 4 days preparing and offering prasad to Chhathi Maiya and believers and ultimately fasting is detoxifying the devotees’ mind and body.
- The rituals of Chhath Puja infuse the body and mind of the devotee for the cosmic solar-energy infusion.
- Its purpose is to lead the devotee towards mental purity, offerings and peace of mind.
- The energy absorbed by the bloodstream improves the function of white blood cells. Along with this, solar energy also helps in balancing the secretion of hormones.
- This four-day festival does not involve idol puja. Devotees has believed that the main sources of the sun’s powers are his wives, (Chhathi Maiya is known as Usha) Usha and Pratyusha. Hence, Chhath involves us worshiping both powers along with the Sun for long life and happiness. It is mostly celebrated in India states as Bihar, Jharkhand, UP, MP, Nepal, Delhi etc.
Places to go on this religiously Auspicious occasion of Chhath Puja
Bihar : The state capital of Bihar is one of the best places to witness the grand Chhath festivities.
- Patna : Located on the banks of the holy Ganga, has numerous dedicated Ghats that are decorated with colorful lights in honor of the festival for the devotees. One should definitely visit on this auspicious festival to get blessings.
- Bhagalpur: It is Bihar’s third-largest city, often called as Silk City. Thousands of devotees go to the Ganga to worship the Sun God during Chhath Puja. Most people gets togeter at the Barani Ghat, which is located below the Vikaramshila Setu and is the most busiest and beautiful during Chhath.
- Gaya: It is about 100 kilometers from Patna and has most historic significances associated with Buddhism. Gaya, Bihar’s second largest city, is situated on the banks of the Phalgu River and attracts Buddhists from all over the world. During the Chhath Puja, the city’s popular ghats, such as Kendui Ghat, Sidhiya Ghat, Pita Maheswar Ghat, and Dev Ghat, gathers devotees observing Chhath.
- Chapra: Chapra is known world wide for the Ambika Bhavani Temple (one of India’s Shakti Peethas) and the Chhath Puja celebrations. The city, which is located at the junction of the Ganga and Ghaghara rivers, once served English, Portuguese, French, and Dutch merchants.
- Darbhanga: It is Bihar’s fifth-largest city and one of the state’s major cultural place. This city is well-known for its medical services, educational institutions, ancient temples, and beautiful Ghats. Every year, the city celebrates Chhath with same enthusiasm, and people come from far and wide to witness the festivities with family in Ghats and lakes on Chhath like Dighi Lake, Gangasagar Lake, and Harahi Lake.
JHARKHAND
- Ranchi: Ranchi, the state’s capital, has always hosted the most festivities. Multiple of ponds and Ghats was cleaned and prepared to welcome the lakhs of devotees who every year comes to pray during the main puja. Ranchi Lake is a popular location for the rituals along with other Ghats in the city, such as Button Talab, Kunkay Talab and Hatia Ghat.
- Jamshedpur: Jharkhand’s second-largest city by population, will also see thousands of families going to Ghats, ponds and riverbanks to pray to the Sun God. As women, children, and men make their way to the ghats for the rituals, the banks of the Surya Mandir, Kharkai and Subarnarekha rivers, becomes the most prominent attraction for rituals. Hundreds of thousands of people offer Araghya on the ghats of Baghbera, Mango, Adityapur, and Sidghora.
- Bokaro: A beautiful little steel city will celebrate Chhath in a big way. After Durga Puja and Diwali, residents will flock to Bokaro’s Garga River and a few ponds. Thousands will visit the seven Ghats along the river and the ten water reservoirs in the area, including Surya Sarovar, Surya Mandir, Cooling Pond, City Park pond, Jagganath Temple campus and Rani Pokhar pond.
- Dhanbad: A nearby city, will also be in a festive mood for Chhath Puja. Most of its ponds are cleaned by now, and one can see crowds immersing themselves in the water and praying to the rising and setting sun at Jharia water reservoirs such as the Vikas Nagar Talab, Barmasia Chhath Talab, Rani Bandh, Bekar Bandh, Pampu Talab and Raja Talab.
UTTAR PRADESH
- The Yogi Aditya Nath government is now focused on the Chhath festival. From Ghaziabad to Ballia, and from Bijnor to Lalitpur, the Chhath festival is widely celebrated in the state. The Urban Development Department has also stepped up its preparations to ensure that no one has a problem during the festival. Direction has been asked to clean lakes or ponds for the Chhath festival.
- And there are many more states were people keep up with the festivals and cultures even if they travel far from there parents like Bangalore, Delhi, MP, Orissa, West Bengal etc.
Glimpse of How we celebrated Chhath Puja this year in Jamshedpur
Chhath Puja is celebrated across India or anywhere in world in 4 days;
Day 1 –
Nahaye KhayeTithi:
Karthik Shukla Chaturthi
Date 28 October 2022
- Nahay-Khay is the first day of the Chhath festival. Firstly our house was cleaned and sanctified before. The Vratis (one who were fasting) my Mom and Maternal Grandmother then bathed in clean water. Vratis only ate once on this day. Fried foods are strictly prohibited during this fast.
- This food is prepared using bronze or clay cooking utensils, no salt. We cooked Lauki – Chawal, Cauliflower etc , then after puja Vratis had this cooked food. Then later and all relatives, neighbors, friends who were invited had the food.
Day 2 –
Kharna or Lohanda
Karthik Shukla Panchami Tithi
Date October 29, 2022
- Kharna or Lohanda is the second day of the Chhath festival. Vratis my Mom and Maternal Grand Mother did fasting for the entire day, not even a drop of water before sunset. Rice pudding, Kheer is made in the evening with sugar, jaggery and sugarcane juice along with Rice Laddus, Ghee Roties. These two things are taken again when Naivedya is given to Suryadev, who lives alone in the same house.
- After offering Kheer, rice laddus and Fruits to god, puja was done to get the blessings by Vratis and all family members. Later after Vratis had Kheer and Milk Laddu rest of the family members and people invited had prasad. My Mom and her mother had started preparing Thekuas in the morning itself.
- This entire procedure is known as kharna. Following that, the fast observes the Nirjala fast for the next 36 hours. My Mom and family prepared Thekua in this morning itself (or can be prepared in the middle of the night) as a special offering for fasting worship.
Day 3 –
Sandhya Arghya
Karthik Shukla Shashthi Tithi
30 October 2022
5:38 PM was the time of sunset in Delhi. Jamshedpur’s sunset time is 5:09 PM.
- Sandhya Arghya is the third day of the Chhath festival. All my family members prepared for worship throughout the day. For Chhath Puja, special offerings such as thekua and kachavaniya (rice laddus) are prepared. For Chhath Puja, a bamboo basket called Daura is filled with the fruits of the puja and placed in Devakari or on coconut Soup. Fruits, sugar cane, 5 kinds of fruits and all puja Samagri are also kept in Daura. Vratis my Mom took extra clothes with her as she will be bathing and offering Jal to The God Sun.
- Men of the house with their hands carried Daura to the Chhath Ghat. We were going to Subarnarekha Ghat, Which is one of the most prominent places during Puja.
- Throughout this Puja, women were singing Chhath Maiya songs/Geet , also while going to Ghat. On the riverbank, a Chhath Mata chaura was built and a coconut is placed on top, along with all the items of worship, before the lamp is lit. Then Vrati’s went to stands in water up to their knees shortly before sunset, taking all the worship Samagri and offer Jal to God or Arghya to the drowning Bhagwan Surya.
- Then all my family members offered Arghya to god to get the blessings. Then everything were packed again in Daura to move to house after sun set and Puja.
Day 4 –
Usha Arghya
Karthik Shukla Saptami
Date – 31 October 2022
6:32 AM was the time of sunrise in Delhi. Jamshedpur’s sunset time is 5:49 AM.
- Arghya is offered to the rising Surya on the fourth day i.e. the last day. Before sunrise, the Vratis, my Mom reached the Subarnarekha along with all the family members to worship the rising Surya Bhagwan.
- The Prasad offered at Sandhya Arghya are replaced by new Prasadum, but the fruits remained the same. After reaching Ghat at 3 Am IST with family. Daura, Soup puja Samagri, fruits all were kept at the same place as it was in Sandhya Arghya. The same way Puja Archana, the ritual of worship of God sun. Diya’s, Candlesticks were lightened by all.
- While the Sun was coming up, all the Vratis went to the water to offer Jal/Arghya to the God Sun. Then all family members offered Arghya to get the blessings. Later Prasad, Thekuas, Fruits were given to all the devotees and the people in need as blessings. After all rituals, all devotees Vratis carry their Daura and go back to home.
This whole 4 day feels to be the most auspicious day, as everyone is devoted in God Sun Bhakti. We touch Vratis feet and take their blessings along with prasad. Being one of the most religious and cultural festival it tends to leave positive remarks on children minds as well.
Let us know, how and where you celebrated Chhath Puja this year…!!!
Posted By, Sweta Shashi.