Devotion at its Peak — Chhath Puja

Being in East India during the month of September to December is fun and colorful all together.

Especially pre — Dusherra shopping to Chhath Puja is one of its kind.

For someone, who is eager to learn about different cultures and regional festivals of East India, it is the best time to spend quality time and has the complete engagement of all the family members of each family. The residents, who live away from their families throughout the year, make sure that they are back home during these days to meet their family and celebrate the occasions altogether.

I belong to one of the popular towns in Jharkhand, and therefore I witness all these festivals with family, which personally gives a feeling of being connected to all the rituals and above all to the almighty.

Chhath Puja is one of such festivals which is most popular in Jharkhand, Bihar, Maithil, and Nepal. Its essence lies in worshiping the Lord Sun and Chhathi Maiya.

Devotees here are more excited to make their Chhath more colorful and cheerful than Dusherra and Diwali.

Chhath Puja is typically four long days festival, which starts in the month of Vikram Samnat, or in other words, it is celebrated after six days of Diwali.

The beauty of this festival lies in the way each member of the family has to be involved in doing some of the other chores of work to complete the puja ritual.

Lord Sun, the giver of life and light to mother earth, is praised and thanked wholeheartedly with the songs, lights, special delicates, and decorations.

As it’s very well said, the more grounded you are, the lighter you feel. You can very well feel this, during this puja, as there are so many important things that people do till today that have been coming from generation to generation, but the way they perform the ritual has not changed. In this age of advanced technology, digitalization, and whatnot, if you are witnessing these occasions, you can feel so connected and attached, that you get completely lost and engrossed with the beauty around you.

The food preparation, the hymes, the diyas, the daala that they prepare feel so inspiring.

Day 1 of Chhath — Nahay Khaye

The very first day of chhath is known as Nahay khaye, which simply means cleaning oneself and the house. If we connect this spiritually, it is the beginning of cleansing your surroundings and your inner self.

On this day after taking bath, and cleaning the house, the ladies of the family get dressed up in their beautiful new attire and get ready for the feast that is prepared for that particular day, which involves Channa Dal, Kaddu ki sabji, and chawal.

Once the food is eaten by these special ladies who will be fasting, the food is eaten by the rest of the family members.

Day 2 of Chhath — Kharna.

This day has a special bond wherein even today, the female members of the family who are going to be on 36 hours long fast make gur ki kheer and arwa chawal on earthen pot with mango sticks. As discussed earlier, if we connect it spiritually, kharna denotes cleansing of the soul and mind.

There is also a rule that is followed when the ladies who are fasting eat this kharna that is, there should be complete silence and no one is allowed to talk while eating kharna. The reason is very simple that we keep clear thoughts and a stable mind when we consume so that the positivity we intake is also spread in our surroundings.

Day 3 of Chhath — Sandhya Arghya

My My My if you really want to see the power of devotion, visit the ponds, rivers, lakes, or any other water bodies in these states where the family members are offering their prayers to Sun God.

On this day the ladies who are already on the long fast since day 2 come to the Ganges and offer prayers to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya in the evening, before the sunset. The male members, especially the Son in the family, are observed taking the Dallas to the ponds all the way and making preparations for puja nearby.

Thick long sugar cane is made to stand still in the flowing water, and a puja chunri is tied to it, the ladies who are on fast, take a holy dip in the water, cleanses themselves, and offer prayer to Sun god and chhathi Maiya, for the wellbeing and longevity of their families.

The diyas are arranged in a row and prayers are offered with Prashad, which include, thekua, kheer, seasonal fruits, coconut, and sweets like laddu. If we connect it spiritually, it says, the soul with its full determination to reach back to God, shows its love and longevity.

Day 4 of Chhath Puja — Usha Arghya

This marks the end of the 4 long days of puja and fast when the family members and the fasting ladies go to the river banks early in the morning just before the sunrise, to welcome the Sun god, and offer prayers. The ladies offer Prashad to the Sun god, and ask for the wellbeing of the family and praise the Lord, to keep shinning day by day and give as light and energy forever. After this, the Prasad is eaten by the ladies, and the fast is broken.

If we connect this spiritually, it means, the departed soul is not happy being with the Lord and asks for being together till the end.

Dedicated to all the devotees of Chhath all over the world.

Lakshmi Mishra.