Chhath Puja- Bihar's Largest Festival : seven things That Every Indian Should Know
An ancient Hindu festival, dedicated to Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya (known to be the sister of Surya), Chhath Puja is unique to the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and the country of Nepal. It is the only Vedic festival that is dedicated to the Sun God, who is supposed to be the source of all powers and Chhathi Maiya (another name for Queen Usha from the Vedic period). The god of light, energy and life force is adored in order to promote well being, development and the prosperity of human beings. Through this festival, people aim towards thanking the Sun God for for a period of four days. The devotees who observe the swift during this festival are called Vrati.
Traditionally, this festival is celebrated twice a year, once in the summers and the 2nd time during the winters. The Karthik Chhath is celebrated during the month of October or November and it is performed on Kartika Shukla Shashti which is the sixth day of the month of Karthika according to the Hindu Calendar. Commemorated on the 6th Day after Diwali, another major Hindu festival, it generally falls during the month of October-November.
It is also celebrated during the summers and that is commonly known as Chaiti Chhath. This is celebrated a few days after Holi.
The Chhath Puja is being celebrated over four days this year, from 15th to 18th November,2015, with Surya Shashthi (main day) falling on 17th November, 2015.
Ritual
Why the festival is named “Chhath”?
The meaning of the word Chhath is six in Nepali or Hindi Language and as this festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the month of Karthika, the festival is named the same.
Why is Chhath Puja celebrated?
There are many stories that date back to the origin of Chhath Puja. It is assumed that in the ancient times, Chhath Puja was celebrated by Draupadi and the Pandavas of Hastinapur in order to solve their problems and regain their lost kingdom. The mantras from the Equipment Veda texts are chanted while worshipping the sun. As the story goes by, this Puja was very first began by Surya Putra Karna who ruled over the Anga Desh (Bhagalpur in Bihar) during the age of Mahabharata. The scientific history or rather the yogic history dates back to the Early Vedic Period. Legend says that the sages and rishis of that era used this method in order to restrain from any outer means of food and build up energy directly from the rays of the sun.
The Rituals of Chhath Puja
Chhathi Maiya, commonly known as Usha, the junior sister of Surya (in the Vedas) is the queen adored in this Puja. The Chhath festival involves several rituals, which are considerably harsher as compared to other Hindu festivals. These usually involve taking dips in rivers or water figures, stringent fasting (one can't even drink water in the entire process of fasting), standing and suggesting prayers in water, facing the sun for long periods and also suggesting prashad to the sun at sunrise and sunset.
Nahay Khay
On the very first day of the Puja, the devotees have to take a dip in the holy sea and cook a decent meal for themselves. Kaddu Bhaat along with Channa dal is a common prep on this day and it is cooked by using mud or bronze utensils and mango wood over a mud stove. The ladies observing the prompt can permit themselves only one meal on this day.
Lohanda and Kharna
On the 2nd day, the devotees are to observe a prompt for the entire day, which they can break just a while after sunset. The Parvaitins cook the entire Prasad on their own which include kheer and chapattis and they break their swift with this Prasad, after which they have to quick without water for thirty six hours.
Sandhya Arghya
The third day is spent by preparing the Prasad at home and then in the evening, the entire household of the Vratins accompany them to the sea bank, where they make offerings to the setting sun. The females generally wear sarees of turmeric yellow colour while making their offerings. The evenings are made even better with the enthusiastic folk songs.
Usha Arghya
Here, on the final day, all the devotees go to the riverbank before sunrise to make offerings to the rising sun. This festival finishes when the Vratins break their thirty six hours prompt (called Paran) and the relatives come over to their house to have their share of Prasad.
Food during Chhath Puja
The Chhath Prasad is traditionally ready with rice, wheat, dry fruits, fresh fruits, nuts, jaggery, coconut and lots and lots of ghee. One significant thing regarding the meals ready during Chhath is that they are ready entirely without salt, onion and garlic.
Thekua is a special part of the Chhath Puja and it is basically a cookie made with entire wheat flour which you must surely attempt if you visit the place during the festival.
Significance of the Chhath Puja
Apart from religious significance, there are a lot of scientific facts fastened to these rituals. The devotees generally plead at the riverbank during sunrise or sunset and it is scientifically backed up with the fact that, the solar energy has the lowest level of the Ultraviolet radiations during these two timings and it is indeed beneficial for the figure. This traditional festival showers upon you positivity and helps in detoxifying your mind, soul and figure. It helps to eliminate all the negative energies in your bod by adoring the powerful sun.
Here is a movie by Bihar Tourism which sums up the festival in all its glory. Love!
Chhath Puja 2015: Songs, Rituals – Much More
Chhath Puja- Bihar's Thickest Festival : seven things That Every Indian Should Know
An ancient Hindu festival, dedicated to Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya (known to be the sister of Surya), Chhath Puja is unique to the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and the country of Nepal. It is the only Vedic festival that is dedicated to the Sun God, who is supposed to be the source of all powers and Chhathi Maiya (another name for Queen Usha from the Vedic period). The god of light, energy and life force is idolized in order to promote well being, development and the prosperity of human beings. Through this festival, people aim towards thanking the Sun God for for a period of four days. The devotees who observe the quick during this festival are called Vrati.
Traditionally, this festival is celebrated twice a year, once in the summers and the 2nd time during the winters. The Karthik Chhath is celebrated during the month of October or November and it is performed on Kartika Shukla Shashti which is the sixth day of the month of Karthika according to the Hindu Calendar. Commemorated on the 6th Day after Diwali, another major Hindu festival, it generally falls during the month of October-November.
It is also celebrated during the summers and that is commonly known as Chaiti Chhath. This is celebrated a few days after Holi.
The Chhath Puja is being celebrated over four days this year, from 15th to 18th November,2015, with Surya Shashthi (main day) falling on 17th November, 2015.
Ritual
Why the festival is named “Chhath”?
The meaning of the word Chhath is six in Nepali or Hindi Language and as this festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the month of Karthika, the festival is named the same.
Why is Chhath Puja celebrated?
There are many stories that date back to the origin of Chhath Puja. It is assumed that in the ancient times, Chhath Puja was celebrated by Draupadi and the Pandavas of Hastinapur in order to solve their problems and regain their lost kingdom. The mantras from the Equipment Veda texts are chanted while worshipping the sun. As the story goes by, this Puja was very first commenced by Surya Putra Karna who ruled over the Anga Desh (Bhagalpur in Bihar) during the age of Mahabharata. The scientific history or rather the yogic history dates back to the Early Vedic Period. Legend says that the sages and rishis of that era used this method in order to restrain from any outer means of food and build up energy directly from the rays of the sun.
The Rituals of Chhath Puja
Chhathi Maiya, commonly known as Usha, the junior sister of Surya (in the Vedas) is the queen idolized in this Puja. The Chhath festival involves several rituals, which are considerably harsher as compared to other Hindu festivals. These usually involve taking dips in rivers or water bods, rigorous fasting (one can't even drink water in the entire process of fasting), standing and suggesting prayers in water, facing the sun for long periods and also suggesting prashad to the sun at sunrise and sunset.
Nahay Khay
On the very first day of the Puja, the devotees have to take a dip in the holy sea and cook a decent meal for themselves. Kaddu Bhaat along with Channa dal is a common prep on this day and it is cooked by using mud or bronze utensils and mango wood over a mud stove. The ladies observing the rapid can permit themselves only one meal on this day.
Lohanda and Kharna
On the 2nd day, the devotees are to observe a prompt for the entire day, which they can break just a while after sunset. The Parvaitins cook the entire Prasad on their own which include kheer and chapattis and they break their prompt with this Prasad, after which they have to prompt without water for thirty six hours.
Sandhya Arghya
The third day is spent by preparing the Prasad at home and then in the evening, the entire household of the Vratins accompany them to the sea bank, where they make offerings to the setting sun. The females generally wear sarees of turmeric yellow colour while making their offerings. The evenings are made even better with the enthusiastic folk songs.
Usha Arghya
Here, on the final day, all the devotees go to the riverbank before sunrise to make offerings to the rising sun. This festival completes when the Vratins break their thirty six hours prompt (called Paran) and the relatives come over to their house to have their share of Prasad.
Food during Chhath Puja
The Chhath Prasad is traditionally ready with rice, wheat, dry fruits, fresh fruits, nuts, jaggery, coconut and lots and lots of ghee. One significant thing regarding the meals ready during Chhath is that they are ready downright without salt, onion and garlic.
Thekua is a special part of the Chhath Puja and it is basically a cookie made with entire wheat flour which you must surely attempt if you visit the place during the festival.
Significance of the Chhath Puja
Apart from religious significance, there are a lot of scientific facts fastened to these rituals. The devotees generally beg at the riverbank during sunrise or sunset and it is scientifically backed up with the fact that, the solar energy has the lowest level of the Ultraviolet radiations during these two timings and it is truly beneficial for the assets. This traditional festival showers upon you positivity and helps in detoxifying your mind, soul and figure. It helps to eliminate all the negative energies in your assets by adoring the powerful sun.
Here is a movie by Bihar Tourism which sums up the festival in all its glory. Love!
Chhath Puja 2015: Songs, Rituals – Much More
Chhath Puja- Bihar's Thickest Festival : seven things That Every Indian Should Know
An ancient Hindu festival, dedicated to Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya (known to be the sister of Surya), Chhath Puja is unique to the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and the country of Nepal. It is the only Vedic festival that is dedicated to the Sun God, who is supposed to be the source of all powers and Chhathi Maiya (another name for Queen Usha from the Vedic period). The god of light, energy and life force is adored in order to promote well being, development and the prosperity of human beings. Through this festival, people aim towards thanking the Sun God for for a period of four days. The devotees who observe the rapid during this festival are called Vrati.
Traditionally, this festival is celebrated twice a year, once in the summers and the 2nd time during the winters. The Karthik Chhath is celebrated during the month of October or November and it is performed on Kartika Shukla Shashti which is the sixth day of the month of Karthika according to the Hindu Calendar. Commemorated on the 6th Day after Diwali, another major Hindu festival, it generally falls during the month of October-November.
It is also celebrated during the summers and that is commonly known as Chaiti Chhath. This is celebrated a few days after Holi.
The Chhath Puja is being celebrated over four days this year, from 15th to 18th November,2015, with Surya Shashthi (main day) falling on 17th November, 2015.
Ritual
Why the festival is named “Chhath”?
The meaning of the word Chhath is six in Nepali or Hindi Language and as this festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the month of Karthika, the festival is named the same.
Why is Chhath Puja celebrated?
There are many stories that date back to the origin of Chhath Puja. It is assumed that in the ancient times, Chhath Puja was celebrated by Draupadi and the Pandavas of Hastinapur in order to solve their problems and regain their lost kingdom. The mantras from the Equipment Veda texts are chanted while worshipping the sun. As the story goes by, this Puja was very first embarked by Surya Putra Karna who ruled over the Anga Desh (Bhagalpur in Bihar) during the age of Mahabharata. The scientific history or rather the yogic history dates back to the Early Vedic Period. Legend says that the sages and rishis of that era used this method in order to restrain from any outward means of food and build up energy directly from the rays of the sun.
The Rituals of Chhath Puja
Chhathi Maiya, commonly known as Usha, the junior sister of Surya (in the Vedas) is the queen idolized in this Puja. The Chhath festival involves several rituals, which are considerably harsher as compared to other Hindu festivals. These usually involve taking dips in rivers or water figures, rigorous fasting (one can't even drink water in the entire process of fasting), standing and suggesting prayers in water, facing the sun for long periods and also suggesting prashad to the sun at sunrise and sunset.
Nahay Khay
On the very first day of the Puja, the devotees have to take a dip in the holy sea and cook a decent meal for themselves. Kaddu Bhaat along with Channa dal is a common prep on this day and it is cooked by using mud or bronze utensils and mango wood over a mud stove. The ladies observing the rapid can permit themselves only one meal on this day.
Lohanda and Kharna
On the 2nd day, the devotees are to observe a swift for the entire day, which they can break just a while after sunset. The Parvaitins cook the entire Prasad on their own which include kheer and chapattis and they break their quick with this Prasad, after which they have to prompt without water for thirty six hours.
Sandhya Arghya
The third day is spent by preparing the Prasad at home and then in the evening, the entire household of the Vratins accompany them to the sea bank, where they make offerings to the setting sun. The females generally wear sarees of turmeric yellow colour while making their offerings. The evenings are made even better with the enthusiastic folk songs.
Usha Arghya
Here, on the final day, all the devotees go to the riverbank before sunrise to make offerings to the rising sun. This festival finishes when the Vratins break their thirty six hours quick (called Paran) and the relatives come over to their house to have their share of Prasad.
Food during Chhath Puja
The Chhath Prasad is traditionally ready with rice, wheat, dry fruits, fresh fruits, nuts, jaggery, coconut and lots and lots of ghee. One significant thing regarding the meals ready during Chhath is that they are ready entirely without salt, onion and garlic.
Thekua is a special part of the Chhath Puja and it is basically a cookie made with entire wheat flour which you must surely attempt if you visit the place during the festival.
Significance of the Chhath Puja
Apart from religious significance, there are a lot of scientific facts fastened to these rituals. The devotees generally plead at the riverbank during sunrise or sunset and it is scientifically backed up with the fact that, the solar energy has the lowest level of the Ultraviolet radiations during these two timings and it is indeed beneficial for the figure. This traditional festival showers upon you positivity and helps in detoxifying your mind, soul and assets. It helps to liquidate all the negative energies in your figure by adoring the powerful sun.
Here is a movie by Bihar Tourism which sums up the festival in all its glory. Love!