Unique and Exclusive
Festival of Biharies Living in Siwan :-
Chhath
the festival of Bihar is not about celebrations but a ritual
carried down since time immemorial. Although its unique to Bihar it as been
observed in some
parts of West Bengal, Orissa, Assam, Mauritius, mainly among the Bhojpuri and Maithili peaking people. Chhath is also important for Nepalese
worshippers of the Sun god as well as in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Chhath Puja is an Indian
thanksgiving festival dedicated to the Sun God. During the celebrations of
Chhath Puja, people gather on the banks of the River Ganges
to bathe in its sacred water, pray and make ritual offerings to the Sun God.
Chhath Puja is a highly elaborate festival noted for its impressive display of
colorful costumes, music, singing and extravagant rituals.
Chhath
(Hindi: छठ, also called Dala
Chhath) is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the Hindu Sun God, Surya,
also known as Surya Shashti. The Chhath Puja is performed in order to thank
Surya for sustaining life on earth and to request the granting of certain
wishes. The Sun, considered the god of energy and of the life-force, is
worshiped during the Chhath fesival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress.
In Hinduism, Sun worship is believed to help cure a variety of diseases,
including leprosy, and helps ensure the longevity and prosperity of family
members, friends, and elders.
The rituals of the
festival are rigorous and are observed over a period of four days. They include
holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water (Vratta), standing in
water for long periods of time, and offering prashad (prayer offerings) and
aragh to the setting and rising sun.
Although it is observed
most elaborately in Bihar, Jharkhand and the Terai regions of Nepal in modern
times, and is more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a
presence, it is celebrated in all regions and major urban centers in India. The
festival is celebrated in the regions including but not exclusive to the
northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Chandigarh, Gujarat,Delhi, Mumbai and Mauritius.
Deity
worshipped :-
"Chhath Pooja" a family festival for every Bihar
born Hindus has its unique religious importance and reminds us of high cultural
heritage of Bihar. It is a worship to "Sun God", who is a
source of light to life of entire living being and abundance of energy to
nature, The recompense of prayer to "Sun-God" has many profits in, human life and
even Muslims and Christians are not left uninfluenced of the same.
They also equally participate in this holy celebration in Bihar.
This festival is celebrated with great austerity and penance. The people of Bihar and Eastern Utter Pradesh offer their prayer to "Sun-God" with highest devotion. It is no
denying fact that not only this world but the entire universe has importance of
existence of "Sun-God".
The study of "Rigved"
"Atherved" and reference of "Ayurved"
enlighten us of importance of worship to "Sun-God". The
worship to "Sun-God" brings all desired fruits in life
of the devotees. It relieves from many pains & grief of.the life* The
leprosy and white spots on skin, i.e. "Charaka" are cured by
worship of "Sun-God". Womens
desirous of geting a "Son" is blessed with such expectation. Mother
Kunti on worship of "Sun-God" was blessed with powerful son
"Karna".
The prayer to "Sun-God" is a historical phenomenon in whole
country. The famous temples of "Sun-God" in Multan,
Kashmir, Chittod, Moghera & Konark are the
evidence of the same. "Chhath
Pooja" has very
strict rules and procedures. The devotees cook their "Foods" and
"Prasad" with dry wood on new oven made of brick and soil. Garlic
& Onions are kept away from reach. Rock Salts, Pure Ghee, Sugar etc. are
used. The devotees sing folk songs in groups. The observing fast for complete 3
days and strict rules of worship demonstrate innocence religious sentiment high
faith and discipline in people of the region. The festivity, excitement &
happiness are worth seeing and enjoyed by people of all walk of life
Chhath is a way to be
grateful to the Sun for giving the bounties of life on earth and for the
fulfillment of wishes of believers. It is a festival of reverence to the solar
deity, the only festival in the world where devotees offer salutations to the
setting sun. Unlike Holi or Diwali, Chhath is a festival of prayer and
appeasement observed with somberness, a festival that should not be missed. It
is held in high esteem and regard.
When Is the Festival of
Chhath Puja?
Chhath
Puja takes place, sometime during the months of October and November,
immediately following the six-day festival of lights known as Diwali. Chhath
Puja lasts for almost 3 days. There is also a "Chaiti Chhath"
celebrated just after Holi.
Elaborating more we can say
:
Chhath puja is performed on kartika Shukala Shashti, which is the
sixth day of the month of Kartika in the Hindu
Calendar. This falls typically in the month of October or November in the Gregorian Calendar.
It is also celebrated in the summer
(March–April), on Chaitra Shashti, some days after Holi; this event is
called Chaiti Chhath.The former is more popular because
winter is the usual festive season in North India,
and Chhath, being an arduous observance, requiring the worshipers to fast
without water for around 36 hours continuously, is easier to undertake in the
Indian winters.
This celebration is made
compulsorily at bank of river, pond, lake, canals etc* with great rejoicement.
The whole family participates in carrying various materials to the above site.
The women devotees stand in mid-water with oblation of Takua "Khaboni"
Kasara-"Laddu of rice powder", Sugarcanes, Radish, Sprouted Gram,
Kidney bean, Turmeric, Coconut, Orange, Sweet lime, Banana and other fruits in winnowing bamboo basket and
relatives & visitors offer "Ist Libation" of raw Milk/Water to
"Sinking Sun" and again at next morning at the same site the devotees
and visitors offer prasad and "2nd Lidation" to "Rising
Sun". Visitors touch the feet of devotees and get prasad. No one hesitate
in demanding prasad from even a strangler.
How Is Chath Puja Celebrated?
·
On
the day before the festival of Chhath Puja, it is customary for participants to
gather on the riverbanks and cleanse themselves, briefly, in the water of the
River Ganges.
·
After
cleansing, a token amount of sacred water is retained for use as offerings during
the festival of Chhath Puja.
·
Before
Chhath Puja, people fast throughout the day and into the early evening.
·
The
fast is followed by worship in the home. Festive fare consisting of freshly
harvested rice, puris (a local bread type delicacy), and fruit such as bananas,
coconuts and grapefruit are then served to the family.
·
On
the second day of Chhath Puja a strict 24-hour fast is observed; not even water
is consumed.
·
Cooking
utensils are purified by the senior women of the household, as part of the ritual
preparation of offerings for the main part of the celebration of Chhath Puja.
·
At
sunset, worshippers proceed to the riverbank bearing their offerings in baskets
held high to avoid the impure touch of human hands.
·
The
participants then pay homage to the Sun God, at the precise moment of the
setting sun.
·
Further
celebrations take place at nightfall under temporary canopies made from sugar
cane stalks where offerings are laid out as a tribute to the god of fire.
·
Well
before sunrise, when the sky is pitch black, worshippers return to the
riverbank to pray to the rising sun; this ritual is considered the focal point
of the ceremony of Chhath Puja.
·
Following
prayers and the purifying bathing ritual, the fast is ended with the offering,
or prasad, to the Sun God.
·
Offerings
are then shared with families, friends and fellow worshippers, accompanied by
the chanting of the Rig Veda Gayatri Mantra to the Sun God.
Chath Puja: Useful Terms:
·
Surya:
The sun (the Sun God is worshipped during the festival of Chhath Puja).
·
Chhath:
In the context of Chhath Puja, Chhath refers to the number six and the
importance of this date on the Indian festival calendar
·
Puja:
Various interpretations exist of the word "puja," including worship
with offerings, especially of flowers, and ritual anointment with sandalwood
paste. Puja is the combination of the Sanskrit words for sin and birth.
·
Prasad:
Ritual offerings.
·
Puris:
This deep-fried bread, made from wheat flour, is traditionally offered at the
festival of Chhath Puja.
·
Thekuwa:
This is a wheat-based cake served during the festival of Chhath Puja.
Chhath is the festival
of truth, non-violence, forgiveness and compassion. It is a festival celebrated
by the Biharis on the sixth day of the lunar month after Diwali every year
usually a 4 day long celebration accompanied by rituals or “Suryashashthi'. The
rituals usually consist of fasting, folklores, hymns, together with the somber
hues on the banks of the celestial Ganga
or any fresh watery body. For example “Chhat Maiya” is celebrated on the banks
of the river Ganga in Patna
and on Yamuna in Delhi.
A million lit lamps with thousands hands offering ‘Arghya’ to
the sun makes it a delightful sight. The enormous faith in Chhat Puja has made it one of the most popular
festivals this region.
Chhath is
the only time when the setting sun as apposed to its rising is celebrated for
its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death. After sunset, the devotees
return home where celebration takes place by singing hymns while devotees
maintaining a strict fast without even water for 3 days. Such is the faith in
the “Chhat Maiya” as popularly called.
On the
morning of the final day, the journey towards the Ganges
starts before sunrise and the sun welcomed with folded hands. Offerings include
sandalwood, vermilion, rice, fruits, covered usually covered
with saffron colored cotton cloth. They offer ‘Arghya’ and chant mantras and
hymns from the Rig Veda and commence the puja. The devotees break the fast.
Prasad is distributed. According to belief if you beg for the Prasad all wishes
will come true.
