Chhath

Chhath Puja is dedicated to Surya, the Sun God, as it is thought that the sun is visible to every being and is the basis of life of all creatures on Earth.{{Cite web|date=2021-11-05|editor-last=Uniyal|editor-first=Parmita|title=Chhath Puja 2021: Date, significance, rituals of Nahay Khay, Kharna and all about four-day festival|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/festivals/chhath-puja-2021-significance-rituals-of-nahay-khay-kharna-four-day-festival-101636116509976.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105133136/https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/festivals/chhath-puja-2021-significance-rituals-of-nahay-khay-kharna-four-day-festival-101636116509976.html |archive-date=5 November 2021 }} Chhathi Maiya (or Chhathi Mata) is also worshipped on this day. According to Vedic astrology, Chhathi Maiya grants children long life and good health by shielding them from illnesses and diseases.{{Cite web|date=2019-11-01|title=Chhath Puja 2019: History, significance, and why it is celebrated|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/more-lifestyle/chhath-puja-2019-history-significance-and-why-it-is-celebrated/story-SmMIr4U3oNcHhFCejiokSN.html|access-date=2020-11-18|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}

File:Ranipokhari-IMG 3228.jpg, a 17th-century pond in Kathmandu]]

File:Chhath Pooja in Delhi.jpg

Chhath Puja is a folk festival that lasts four days. It starts with Kartik Shukla Chaturthi and ends with Kartik Shukla Saptami. Chhath is celebrated twice a year:{{Cite web |title=All about Chhath Puja |url=https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/all-about-chhath-puja-694259 |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=NDTV Food |language=en}}

1. Chaiti Chhath – observed in the Chaitra month of Vikram Samvat.{{Cite web|date=2021-11-10 |title=What is Chhath Puja: The age-old tradition of worshipping the God of Sun |url=https://indusscrolls.com/what-is-chhath-puja-the-age-old-tradition-of-worshipping-the-god-of-sun |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Indus Scrolls |language=en-US}}
2. Kartik Chhath – celebrated at a very large scale in the Kartika month of Vikram Samvat.{{Cite web |date=2020-02-26 |title=Chhath Puja {{!}} When, Why & How Celebrate - All Indian Festivals |url=https://www.allindianfestivals.in/chhath-puja/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |language=en-US}}

The main worshippers, called {{transliteration|sa|parvaitin}} ({{Translation|'devotees'}}, from Sanskrit parva, meaning 'occasion' or 'festival'), are usually women. However, men also observe this festival as Chhath is not a gender-specific festival.{{cite news |date=5 November 2016 |title=Men not far behind women in celebrating Chhath |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Men-not-far-behind-women-in-celebrating-Chhath/articleshow/55251895.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111122821/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Men-not-far-behind-women-in-celebrating-Chhath/articleshow/55251895.cms |archive-date=11 November 2016 |website=The Times of India}} The {{transliteration|sa|parvaitin}} pray for the well-being of their family, and for the prosperity of their children.

On the first day of Chhath Puja, the parvaitin must take a holy bath, after which the entire house, its surroundings, and pathways to the ghat are thoroughly cleaned. Parvaitin usually cook sattvik lauka bhaat (bottle gourd and Bengal gram lentil, with Arva rice), which is served in the afternoon to the deity as bhog (consecrated food). This initiates the festival. The food is then eaten by the parvaitin to protect the mind from thoughts of vengeance; it is the parvaitin's the last meal during the festival.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-16|title=Chhath Puja 2020 Date and Time: Know about the date, days and time of Pratihar sashthi|url=https://english.jagran.com/lifestyle/chhath-puja-date-2020-when-is-chhath-puja-pratihar-sashthi-days-time-and-rituals-all-you-need-to-know-10019925|access-date=2020-11-18|website=Jagran English}}

Kharna, also known as Rasiaav-roti or Lohanda, is the second day of Chhath Puja.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} On this day, as an act of worship, devotees do not drink even a single drop of water. In the evening, they eat gur ke kheer (kheer made of jaggery), called rasiaav, together with roti.{{Cite web|last=नवभारतटाइम्स.कॉम|date=2019-11-01|title=छठ पर्व से जुड़ी ये खास बातें नहीं जानते होंगे आप, इसलिए पानी में उतरकर दिया जाता है अर्घ्‍य|url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/astro/photo/today-is-second-day-of-chhath-pooja-know-about-nahay-khay-kharna-and-sasthi-maiya-68852/|access-date=2020-11-18|website=नवभारत टाइम्स|language=hi-IN}}

File:Chat Puja.jpg

This day is spent by preparing the prasada (food offerings) at home, which often consist of thekua (cookies), rice laddu sweets, khajuria, tikri, kasar, and fruits (mainly sugarcanes, sweet lime, coconut, banana, and seasonal fruits) offered in small bamboo baskets.{{Cite web |date=2020-11-20 |title=Kasar Laddu Recipe: संध्या अर्घ्य के लिए बनाएं कसार लड्डू का प्रसाद, मिनटों में होगा तैयार |url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/lifestyle/kasar-laddu-recipe-for-chhath-puja-2020-third-day-bgys-3344608.html |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=News18 हिंदी |language=hi}} The food is strictly vegetarian and is cooked without salt, onions, or garlic. Emphasis is placed on maintaining the purity of the food.{{cite news |date=1 November 2011 |title='Rasiao-kheer', 'thekua' make for festive platter |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ludhiana/Rasiao-kheer-thekua-make-for-festive-platter/articleshow/10563781.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511191915/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-01/ludhiana/30345212_1_chhath-puja-ancient-hindu-festival-sun-god |archive-date=11 May 2013 |access-date=13 March 2012 |newspaper=The Times of India}}

In the evening, the entire household accompanies the devotee to a riverbank, pond, or other large body of water to make the arghya offerings to the setting sun. Where there is no river or pond, an indoor setup such as a tank or fountain is used. In certain places there are restrictions on using beaches for puja.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=5 November 2021 |title=Mumbai: No Chhath celebrations on beaches, says municipal body |url=https://scroll.in/latest/1009857/mumbai-no-chhath-celebrations-on-beaches-says-municipal-body |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105230651/https://scroll.in/latest/1009857/mumbai-no-chhath-celebrations-on-beaches-says-municipal-body |archive-date=5 November 2021 |access-date=2021-11-09 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}} Besides the devotees and their friends and family, other participants and onlookers help and receive the worshipper's blessings.

When making arghya, Gangajal water is offered to Surya, and Chhathi Maiya is worshipped with the prasada. After the worship of the Sun God, participants sing Chhath songs in the night and read the Vrat katha.{{Cite web |last=Karki |first=Tripti |date=2019-11-02 |title=Chhath Puja 2019 {{!}} Day 3-Sandhya Arghya {{!}} Significance, Puja Vidhi and Mantra |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/lifestyle/news-chhath-puja-2019-day-3-sandhya-arghya-significance-puja-vidhi-mantra-560235 |access-date=2020-11-18 |website=indiatvnews.com |language=en}}

After returning home, devotees perform the ritual of kosi bharai together with other family members. They tie together 5–7 sugarcanes to form a mandap beneath which 12–24 diya (lamps) are burnt and thekua and seasonal fruits are offered. The same ritual is repeated the next morning between 3 am and 4 am, and afterward the devotees offer arghya or other offerings to the rising sun.

At dawn on the last day of Chhath Puja, worshippers travel to the riverbank to offer arghya to the rising sun. After making this holy offering, parents pray to Chhatti Maiya for their child's protection as well as the happiness and peace of their whole family. After worship, followers participate in the Paran or Parana rite, breaking their fast with a small amount of prasada and water. This rite emphasises the connection between family well-being and divine favours, serving as a symbol of thanksgiving and spiritual closure.

In some communities, once a family member starts performing Chhath Puja, they are duty-bound to perform it every year and to pass it on to the following generations. The festival is skipped only if there is a death in the family that year. If the person stops performing the ritual on any particular year, it stops permanently and one cannot resume it. In other communities, this is not mandatory.

File:Gangi River, Arrah.jpg|Chhath celebration at Gangi River in Arrah

File:Chhat Puja Worship Material.jpg|Chhath Puja worship material

File:Chatt Puja Celebration 1.jpg|Woman praying during Chhath

File:Chatt Puja Celebration 2.jpg|Women waiting with prasada for offerings

File:Ghadiarwa-Park-Birgunj-04.jpg|View of decorated Ghadiarwa pond on the occasion of Chhath festival, Birgunj, Nepal

File:Chhat Puja at Inaruwa 06.jpg|Chhath Puja at Inaruwa, Sunsari District, Koshi Province

File:Chhath Puja Sandhya Ghats Malangwa Bhelhi Sarlahi 3.jpg| Sandhya Ghat at Jhim River, located between Malangwa and Brahmapuri, Sarlahi (November 2021)

File:Chatt 7.jpg|Chhath Puja celebration at Azimganj

File:Sun-temple DEO Aurangabad Bihar,India.jpg in Deo, Bihar, India]]

Chhath has been mentioned in both the major Indian epics. In the Ramayana, when Rama and Sita returned to Ayodhya, people celebrated Deepavali, and on its sixth day the Ramarajya ({{Lit|Kingdom of Rama}}) was established. On this day Rama and Sita fasted, and Surya Shashthi and Chhath Puja was performed by Sita. Hence, she was blessed with Lava and Kusha as sons.

In Champaran (Bihar, India) and Madhesh Province (Nepal), it is a belief that after leaving Ayodhya, Sita stayed in Valmiki Ashram located on the edge of the Narayani (Gandaki) river in Chitwan district, on the India–Nepal border. During that time, she celebrated Chhath Mahaparva in Nepal.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-07 |title=नारायणी नदी में छठ महापर्व से जुड़ी है पौराणिक कथा: मां सीता जब वाल्मीकि आश्रम में थीं, तब यहां की थीं छठ पूजा, देखें VIDEO |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/bihar/muzaffarpur/bagha/news/different-impact-of-chhathh-mahaparv-on-narayani-river-129092820.html |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Dainik Bhaskar |language=hi}}

In the Mahabharata, Chhath Puja was performed by Kunti after she (and the Pandavas) escaped from Lakshagriha.{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Pragativadi News |date=2022-10-29 |title=Chhath Puja 2022: History, Story, Significance |url=https://pragativadi.com/chhath-puja-2022-history-story-significance/ |access-date=2024-01-22 |website=Pragativadi |language=en-US}} It is also believed that Karna, the son of Surya and Kunti, was conceived after Kunti performed Chhath Puja. Draupadi is also said to have performed the Puja for the Pandavas to win the Kurukshetra War. It is believed that Draupadi performed Chhath Puja near a spring in Nagdi village of Ranchi. In this village today, the festival is performed near this spring, not the river or pond.{{Cite web |title=Chhath Mahaparv: द्रौपदी ने इस गांव में की थी सबसे पहले छठ पूजा, आज भी मौजूद हैं निशान |url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/bihar-jharkhand/jharkhand/chhath-mahaparv-draupadi-did-surya-puja-in-nagadi-ranchi-know-full-story-in-hindi/1023129 |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Zee News |language=hi}}{{Cite web |title=क्या आप जानते हैं? कुंती व द्रोपदी ने भी की थी छठ पूजा - |url=https://www.jagran.com/spiritual/sant-saadhak-kunti-and-draupadi-was-the-chhath-puja-10841310.html |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}

The Brahma Vaivarta Purana mentions that Chhathi Maiya is worshipped during the Chhath festival. It says that the Chhath Puja was started in the holy city of Varanasi by the Gahadavala dynasty. According to the Kashi Khanda, the trend of Chhath Puja spread from Varanasi to elsewhere in the country.

According to another legend, King Priyavrata, son of first Manu Svayambhu, was unhappy because he had no children. To remedy this, Kashyapa asked him to do a yajna. Shortly after, a son was born to Queen Malini; however, the baby was born dead. Following the stillbirth, the king and his family were heartbroken. Finding sympathy for the royal family, Mata Shashthi revealed herself in the sky. When the king prayed to her, she spoke, saying: "I am Chhathi Maiya the sixth form of Prakriti. I protect all the children of the world and give the blessings of children to all childless parents." After this, the goddess blessed the lifeless child with her hands, so that he came to life. Thankful for Shashthi Devi's grace, the king worshipped the goddess. It is believed that after this puja, this festival became a worldwide celebration.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

It is also believed that there was an ashram (hermitage) of the rishi Kashyapa and Aditi in the Buxar region. Mata Aditi gave birth to Surya as a son on the sixth day of Kartika. Surya is also called Aditya because he is the son of Aditi. For this reason, Chhath Puja is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Surya and the month of Kartika is considered a holy month throughout the year.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-28 |title=Chhath Puja: कब से शुरू हुई छठ महापर्व मनाने की परंपरा, बेतिया के पंडित शत्रुघ्न द्विवेदी से जानें सबकुछ |url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/bihar/west-champaran-why-is-chhath-puja-celebrated-in-bihar-know-history-and-significance-nodark-4808749.html |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=News18 हिंदी |language=hi}}

In Munger region, the festival is known for its association with Sita manpatthar (or Sita Charan; {{Lit|Sita's footsteps}}). It is believed that the goddess Sita performed Chhath festival in Munger. Sitacharan Temple, situated on a boulder in the middle of the Ganges River in Munger, is the main center of public faith regarding the Chhath festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/munger/story-mata-sita-performed-chhath-puja-in-munger-5027410.amp.html|title=Sitacharan Temple." Live Hindustan.livehindustan.com |access-date= 8 Nov 2021}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite web |date=2015-11-19 |title=भारत-नेपाल के लोगों ने एक साथ मनाया छठ पर्व |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/bihar/madhubani/613427- |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=Prabhat Khabar |language=hi}}

{{Commons category|Chhath}}

• {{Cite book|last1=Sharma|first1=S. P.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_LCSKv-4HcYC|title=Fairs and Festivals of India|last2=Gupta|first2=Seema|date=2006|publisher=Pustak Mahal|isbn=978-81-223-0951-5|pages=26–29|language=en}}
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