A celebration of Devotional Regards- Chhath Puja
India is a nation of festivals. Its soil celebrates the magnificence of various festivals each year. The traditions and rituals performed in these festivals convey a significant history that leaves enormous positive impacts. They bear scientific proof that guides individuals to maintain an equilibrium between physical, mental, emotional and spiritual life. Rituals are the foundation of life and guide us to a blissful life with gratitude.
Recently, India celebrated the most beloved festival in Hinduism, Deepavali(Diwali). Every Indian enthusiastically celebrated the culture and its rituals on this beautiful occasion. If you are interested in the Festival of Deepavali, you can visit my blog on "Deepavali- the Festival of Lights."
Another precious festival in India that occurs after Deepavali is "Chhath Puja."
Today, through this blog, I'll tell you about one of India's cherished festivals, Chhath Puja. This blog possesses every answer related to Chhath Puja. I'll fill you with a knowledge of its significance, history, performing rituals and scientifically proven facts. So, Let's connect, readers!
Introduction
Chhath Puja is the only festival mentioned in the Vedas. The Rigved confirms its existence for years. Chhath Puja comes twice a year, once in the Chaitra month(March-April) and another in Kartik month(October-November), according to Saka Celender.
The National Calender of India follows the Saka calendar, and according to it, Chaitra is the first month of the year that begins with the spring equinox, March 22(the day when day and night are of equal length).
This historic Hindu calendar was published by Saka Samvat in 1957 at the beginning of the Saka Era.
The festival of Chhath Puja, which arrives in Chaitra month, is celebrated by a community, but! Chhath Puja of Kartik month is the most divine festival celebrated by the entire Nation. Its massiveness is observable by the crowd on the banks of various rivers across the country.
The effectiveness of this festival is hidden in its name. The word "Chhath" is a Prakrit derivative of the Sanskrit word "Shashti," which means "Sixth."
According to the Saka calendar, the festival of Chhath Puja comes on the sixth day of the holy Kartik month. Kartik is the most sacred month in Sanatan because it is the birth month of Surya Dev(Sun God).
Chhath Puja is dedicated to Surya Dev and his beloved wife, Chhathi Maiya(also known as Usha). Every year, Indians celebrate this day as the birth anniversary of the Sun God. In Sanatan, people worship the Sun deity with gratitude and thanks for the basis of life on Earth. It is a festival that expresses devotion and respect to Surya Dev.
It is one of the oldest Sanatan festivals, whose rituals are found in the many holy scriptures of Sanatan. It is connected with Lord Ram, Goddess Sita of Treta Yug(Era), and Draupadi of Dwapar Yug, which means the foundation of rituals performed in this festival are of a million years.
History
According to the scriptures, Lord Ram and Goddess Sita followed identical rituals to pay tribute to the Surya Dev. After fourteen years of exile, Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya with Goddess Sita. The entire Ayodhya celebrated that day as "Deepavali" and accepted Lord Ram as their ruler.
During the coronation, Lord Ram and Goddess Sita worshipped the Sun God. They delivered Arghya(offer water) to the rising Sun God, fasted all day, and broke their fast only with the setting sun. Lord Ram and Goddess Sits followed the ritual so that their people followed their steps and spent happy and healthy lives.
Vedas, Granthas, Upanishads, Puranas, and every holy scripture of Sanatan have thousands of rituals for a blissful life. These rituals have been performed for millions of years, and today, modern science proves their praising result on humans.
The existence of rituals performed on Chhath Puja is also mentioned in the Sanatan Holy scripture, Mahabharat. Their Sanskrit poem references the worshipping of a Surya Dev and fasting to pay tribute to him. According to scripture, Mahabharat, the epic battle in the Dwapar Yug, reveals that Draupadi and her husband, Pandavas, lived indigent during exile. Once, a hundred and eight sages visited their cottage for food. Draupadi was depressed because she didn't have enough food to serve. Then, as per the suggestion of one sage, Dhaumya, Draupadi began to pray to the Sun God and fasted on the Shashi(Chhathi) of the Kartik month. When she completed the rituals with devotion, all sages felt fulfilled and blessed her and Pandavas.
The rituals performed by the Draupadi helped her in trouble and also helped the Pandavas retrieve their kingdom.
The greatest warrior, Karna, of Mahabharat, is also observed to perform similar rituals. He was the son of Surya Dev(Sun God). Karn chanted mantras and offered water(called Arghya) to the rising Surya Dev every morning.
The culture and rituals of Sanatan have a decisive foundation. They are deeply rooted. Many holy scriptures testify that these rituals were performed by the Lords, Gods and Goddesses, in spiritual or material(human) form, so that devotees follow their divinities for a pleased life.
Rituals
Chhath festival is a fanfare festival in Bihar and Jharkhand. Some other states, such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh, are also on the list. The Indian constitution accepts each festival with devotion and respect. Any festival in India can be celebrated in any part of the Nation.
Chhath Puja is a four-day Hindu festival that begins with "Nahay Khay" and ends with "Usha Arghya." During this period, a 36-hour-long fasting called Nirjala Vrat(fasting without water) is followed. The Nirjala fast begins after the first Arghya(offer water). The rituals of Chhath Puja are performed with the worship of the Sun God. He starts with the setting Sun on the first day and concludes with the rise on the fourth day.
The person who follows every ritual with complete devotion is known as "Vrati." Vrati sleeps on the floor during the Chhath Puja and counts as a pure soul.
Devotees offer homemade pure vegetarian dishes and fruits to the Sun God to seek blessings for their loved ones.
The first-day rituals begin with a holy bath in the evening called "Nahay Khay." People meditate in a standing position to pay tribute to the setting Sun because Surya Dev(Sun God) is the reason for life on Earth.
No idol of the Sun God is used to worship. Devotees directly worship the Sun God. On this day, devotees wear clean and environment-friendly clothes for worship.
During "Nahay Khay," devotees follow the ritual of Nirjala Vrat. On this auspicious day, traditional dishes, such as "bottle gourd dish (Loki ki sabzi)" and "Chana dal and rice," are prepared. Devotees offer these meals on banana leaves with Tulsi leaves and flowers and invite "Chhathi Maiya" for two and a half days at their homes. Later, devotees eat these traditional dishes and then begin their Nirjala fast.
The second day is called "Karna." Devotees break their Nirjala Vrat this day with a traditional meal, "Kharna." Kharna is a sweet dessert (Kheer) prepared with Arwa Rice and Jaggery(Gud). It delivers on the banana leaves with Chapatis. During sunset, devotees offer these meals to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya and break their fast with identical offerings. These offerings are distributed in others. During these rituals, Devotees chant Mantras and appraisals of the Sun God.
Some devotees also follow simple fasting all four days of Chhath Puja. Mostly women do every ritual with devotion.
Sanatan holy scriptures always said, "यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः ।यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफलाः क्रियाः," which means "where women are respected and their needs and expectations are fulfilled, the gods remain happy at that place, society and family."
It is why women forever live in front of performing every ritual and celebrating festivals in Sanatan.
On the third day of Chhath Puja, devotees give "Sandhya Arghya" or "Pehli Arghya" to the setting sun. Devotees visit the river or self-made pools and decorate them with Diyas, rangoli and sugarcane stalks. The offerings are delivered in the cane and bamboo baskets called soops. Devotees pour milk and water on the soop.
The soop contains coconut(nariyal), Sweet lemon(meetha nimbu), pineapple, Turmeric(haldi), Ginger(adrak), Pumpkin(kaddu), radish(muli), Water chestnut(singhada), seasonal fruits, banana, Custard Apple(seetafal), Arabi, Batashe, Peda, etc. and offers in the evening at the time of setting sun.
The fourth day is renowned as "Paran Din," also known as "Usha Arghya." It is the day when devotees worship the rising Surya Dev near the water body and break the fast by offering meals and fruits. The traditional offering of this day is "Thekua, a cake of wheat." It is prepared traditionally. Thekua cooked in the mud Chulha for Chhath Puja. After the Arghya, the Prasad is distributed to family, friends and other devotees for Sun God's blessings.
Vedic beliefs and Scientific proves
According to Vedas, the sunrays of early morning and late evening detoxify the mind, body and soul. During this span, these rays potentially remove all negative energies that leave a positive impact on human lives. The fasting ritual followed in festivals improves immunity because, during fasting, the body itself starts curing. Numerous Sages used this technique to remain without food and absorb the energy from the Sun God.
Modern science proves that the human body safely absorbs positive solar energies during sunrise and sunset. During this period, the sun emits less ultraviolet radiation.
Eating fruits and meals full of fibre, protein, and essential elements increases the good bacteria inside the Gut. The human Gut bears the same nerve cells as the human brain. If you provide balanced meals to your Gut, it will send positive signals to the entire body.
Simply, a bad mood means bad bacteria in the body that may increase negativities like hatred, jealousy and angriness. But, good bacteria help in a disease-free body with a positive mind.
Festivals and rituals connect us and spread the knowledge of a happy life. Our scriptures are written by ingenious sages who were the scholars of the spiritual and material world. The rituals mentioned by them hold the power to guide us to a serene and joyful life. They guide us to remain devoted to the environment.
We should try to follow our rituals. Their positive impacts change the lives of many. We should traditionally do things. It is the beauty of festivals, no showoffs. They are pure, nature-friendly and full of knowledge...
Now it's time to leave and turn on the new learnings. Hopefully, my blog cover the entire celebration of "Chhath Puja" and truthfully presents the importance of this festival.
We will meet soon with another knowledgeable topic. Till that, Happy Chhath Puja! Jai Chhathi Maiya!
Happy reading!
Special Thanks to Sanjeet Kumar Chaudhary @sanjeet_kchaudhary and Ritu Gupta @_ritugupta_
PC: Ritu Gupta @_ritugupta_
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