RELEVANCE AND RITUALS OF CHHATH PUJA : Grasshopper

Sakshi Nagar 18-11-2023 06:38 PM My India

The excitement of Chhath Puja is visible everywhere, everyone is now busy preparing. This great festival of worship of Chhathi Maiya and Suryadev is of special importance. Chhath has special significance in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Chhath festival lasts for four days, it starts with bathing and eating and ends by offering Arghya to the setting and rising sun. It has a deep impact on common life also. Every wish is fulfilled by worshiping the Sun god. The Chhath festival celebrated on Chaitra Shukla Paksha Shashthi is called 'Chaiti Chhath' and the festival celebrated on Kartik Shukla Paksha Shashthi is called 'Kartiki Chhath'. Chhath Puja is especially done for children. Chhath Puja is also called the great festival of faith because it is necessary to have faith to worship continuously for 36 hours, and devotees get this faith only from Chhathi Maiya. It is believed that Chhathi Maiya is pleased by worship done with a true heart and fulfills all the wishes of those observing fast. Chhath Puja is mentioned in many texts including Mahabharata. There are many stories about its origin, which show its importance. Let’s know Why and How the Chhath festival is celebrated.

According to the Puranas, a king named Priyavrata had no children. For this he made every effort, but to no avail. The king had made up his mind to commit suicide. Then Goddess Shashthi appeared in the dream and asked for Surya worship. The king did the same and had a child. After this, the king announced to celebration of this festival in his kingdom.

HOW TO WORSHIP IN CHHATH PUJA?

To perform Chhath Puja, the fasting person has to follow strict rules. Special care is taken of cleanliness during Chhath Puja. Chhath starts with Nahay-Khay, on this day rice and gourd vegetable is prepared and eaten. Kharna is celebrated on the next day, on the day of Kharna, kheer is made of jaggery and rice. After eating this kheer, fasting of 36 hours starts. Arghya is offered to the setting sun in the evening on the third day. After this, Chhath Puja ends after offering Arghya to the rising sun in the morning.

WHAT ARE THE OFFERINGS IN CHHATH PUJA?

Prasad has great importance in Chhath Puja. Chhath Prasad is specially prepared and worshiped in bamboo soop. While offering Arghya to the Sun, this bamboo soop is kept in hand. The Prasad consists of fruits, coconut, sugarcane, betel nut, water chestnut, radish, and especially thekua prepared from flour. Chhath puja is considered incomplete without Thekua.

AUSPICIOUS TIME ON NAHAY-KHAY TITHI

The first day of Chhath Puja is Nahay-Khay. According to Pandit Ashish Sharma, Nahay-Khay is on 17th November this year. On this day, sunrise will be at 06:45 and sunset will be at 05:27 in the evening. During this period, after bathing in the river, one should take a pledge to fast and consume only vegetarian food.

AUSPICIOUS TIME OF KHARNA TITHI ON THE SECOND DAY

Kharna Puja is performed on the second day of Chhath festival. Kharna Puja will be performed on 18th November. Sunrise of this day will be at 06:46 am and sunset will be at 05:26 pm. On this day, sweet Thekua Prasad is prepared in the house of the fasting person. It is prepared at home on an earthen stove. The person fasting on Panchami Tithi should not consume salt.

ARGHYA TO THE SUN IN THE EVENING ON THE THIRD DAY

On the third day of Chhath Puja, Arghya is offered to the Sun God in the evening. This year, the evening Arghya of Chhath Puja will take place on November 19 at 05:26 pm. While offering Arghya to the Sun God, one must keep fruits, thekua, rice laddus, etc. in the basket. Arghya should be offered to the Sun God by standing in waist-deep water in a river or pond.

ARGHYA TO THE RISING SUN ON THE LAST DAY

On the last day of Chhath festival, the fast is broken by offering Arghya to the rising sun. The time of Arghya to the rising sun on 20th November will be 06:47 am. After this the fast of 36 hours ends. If this fast is observed as per the rituals, then the happiness of having a child is achieved and the life of the child is long.