Chhath Puja

Festival of Chhath, also known as ;hasthi, is an ancient Hindu Vedic dedicated to the Sun God. The Sun dered to be the omnipotent god of and of the life-force. This is why is worshiped during the Chhath for well-being, prosperity and ss in one's life. During the festival a worship (Puja) is performed in o thank Surya for sustaining life on ,-d to request for fulfilling certain .n Hinduism, Sun worship is to help cure a variety of diseases, -g leprosy, and helps ensure the and prosperity of family s. friends, and elders. itn is celebrated in a grand manner ;lain Tarai belt of Nepal. In a'du also the Chhath puja is a:ely performed along the Holy :- river and Ranipokhari. ntuals of the festival are rigorous a observed over a period of four "hey include holy bathing, fasting staining from drinking water I. standing in water for long periods !. and offering prashad (prayer gs) and aragh to the setting and sun. also believed that Chhath was by Karna, the son of Surya in the findu epic Mahabharata . (ding to Yogic philosophy, the ti bodies of all the living organisms hiy sophisticated energy conducting 'is. The solar bio-electricity starts in the human body when it is d to solar radiations of specific ngths. Under particular physical .ntal conditions, the absorption and tion of this solar-bio-electricity es. Only sunrise and sunset are the during which the majority of s can safely obtain the solar energy from the Sun. That is why in puja there is a tradition of offering to the Sun in late evening and in sorning. During these phases the let radiation levels remain in safe
MAIYA '..;oddess that is worshipped during Puja is known as Chhathi Maiya known as Usha in the Vedas and is d to be the consort of Surya. That is
why Chhathi Maiya is invoked during the Puja to bless with divine consciousness which will help all to overcome the troubles in the world.

RITUALS AND TRADITIONS
 Chhath is a festival of bathing and worshipping. During this period, the worshiper observes purity, and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket. This festival is holy and unique which does not involve any priest. The devotees offer their prayers to the setting sun, and then the rising sun in celebrating its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death. It is seen as the most glorious form of Sun worship. The main worshipers are usually women. However, a large number of men also participate actively. The women pray for the well-being of their family and for the prosperity of their offsprings. The prasad offerings include sweets, Kheer, Thekua and fruit offered in small bamboo soop winnows. The food is strictly vegetarian and it is cooked without salt, onions or garlic.


DAY 1: BATHE AND EAT
  On the first day of Chhath Puja, the devotees take a dip, preferably in the holy river Ganges ( or near by rivers and ponds) and carry home the holy water to prepare the offerings. The house and surroundings should be neat and clean. The main worshipper allows herself only one meal on this day. Traditionally the food is cooked on an earthen stove a mango wood is used as fuel.

DAY 2: THE DAY BEFORE CHHATH
  On this day of Panchami the worshipper does not take any food till sunset. Just after the worship of earth, the offerings of rice delicacy, deep-fried puffs of wheat flour and bananas, are taken to break the fast. No sugar is used, only jaggery is used to sweeten the kheer. This is then distrib-uted among family and friends. From this day onwards, the main worshipper goes on a lonf fasting without water for the next 36 hours,

DAY 3: THE DAY OF CHHATH PUJA
 The whole day is spent preparing the prasad (offerings) at home. Those who help, also take a bath and fast till all the prasad is made. The wheat is washed and dried and even birds are not supposed to touch it. The mill is washed before grinding. On the eve of this day, the entire household accompa-nies the parvaitins to a riverbank, pond or a common large water body with the Thekuas fruits, etc. to make the offerings (Aragh) of Ganga-Jal to the setting sun. It is during this phase of Chhath Puja that the devotees offer prayers to the just setting sun.

DAY 4: THE DAY AFTER CHHATH
 On the concluding day of Chhath the devotees along with family and friends go to the riverbank before sunrise, in order to make the offerings to the rising sun. The festival ends with the breaking of the fast by the main worshipper and friends visiting the houses of the devotees to receive the prashad. The Chhath has so much impor-tance that there is no line between the rich and poor. Even millionaire beg for prasad at the Chhath ghat. This symbolizes that all are beggars in front of the god. Observing people celebrating this festival at the crack of dawn on a river bank is so beautiful and it definitely is once in a lifetime experience.