Chhath Puja is one of the most sacred festivals celebrated mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal. A substantial Purvanchali population means Chhath is popular in Delhi as well.
This year, Chhath celebrations began from Nahay Khay on November 08 and will end with Usha Arghya on November 11.
Here are 10 things you must know about this festival:
1: WHAT CHHATH MEANS
The word Chhath is derived from the Sanskrit word shashti, which means the 6th. Chhath is celebrated after six days of Diwali. Chaiti Chhath takes place in the early summers. Chhath is also called Dala Chhath because of the usual practice of using flat cane baskets known as ?ala during the puja.
2: THE GOD AND THE GODDESS
Chhath is known as Surya Chhath because of the worship of the setting Sun and then the rising Sun on the following day. Chha?hi Maiya, the presiding deity of fertility and protection of children, is also worshipped.
3: THE WORSHIPPERS
The devotees who observe fast are known as Vratis. Chhath is celebrated for the prosperity and well-being of the family members. Commonly women keep fast on Chhath, but men, though fewer in numbers, also do it.
4: REFERENCES FROM ANCIENT TIMES
Chhath Puja has its references in Rigveda. It is said Draupadi and Pandavas also celebrated this festival to get back their lost kingdom. As per ancient traditions, Chhath Puja was initially performed by Karna, the offspring of Lord Surya and Kunti. During the times of Mahabharata, he ruled Anga Desh, which is the modern Bhagalpur in Bihar.
5: NO REQUIREMENT OF PRIESTS
In most pujas, priests conduct katha and havan, but in Chhath Puja, there's no requirement for priests. Chhath is probably the only major Hindu festival that doesn't involve priests or purohits. There is no idol worship and devotees don't need priests to do the puja.
6: NAHAY KHAY
Nahay Khay is celebrated on the first day of Chhath Puja. After taking a bath, devotees cook prasad, which is made using various ingredients such as pumpkin, moong-chana dal and bottle gourd. Chawal (rice), chana dal (split Bengal gram) and lauki (bottle gourd) are a must on the menu of the devotees on Nahay Khay. Women who keep fast on this day or 'Vratis' eat the prasad only once a day and other family members eat only after the Vratis has eaten the prasad.
7: KHARNA
On the second day of Chhath Puja, Kharna is observed and the Vratis keep a full-day fast. They make a special prasad called Rasaio-Kheer (with jaggery and arwa chawal) after sunset. Vratis eat the prasad and start their nirjala fast (without water), which lasts 36 hours, and offer prayers to Chhathi Maiya.
8: SANDHYA ARGHYA
Sandhya Arghya is on the third day of Chhath Puja. Vratis keep a fast without eating or consuming even a drop of water. Folk songs are sung at the banks of water bodies and ghats. Vratis prepare a special sweet dish 'Thekua' with jaggery, ghee and flour, which is offered as a prasad to Chhathi Maiya. In the evening, at sunset, Vratis offer Arghya to Lord Surya with the family members in a nearby water body or at a ghat, which is also known as Sandhya Arghya or Pehli Arghya.
9: USHA ARGHYA
Usha Arghya is the last and fourth day of the four-day Chhath festival and is also known as Paran Din. On the final day, devotees offer prayers to the Sun and perform all the religious rituals and customs at dawn. They sit near banks of water bodies until the Sun rises. The morning 'arghya' is offered to the rising Sun by going in the water. Devotees stand with their feet dipped in a water body, break the fast by eating the prasad and take blessings from the family elders.
10: THE PRASAD
The Chhath prasad and meals include rice, wheat, fresh fruits, dry fruits, Thekua, sugarcanes, coconut, nuts, jaggery, and dollops of ghee. Chhath meals don't contain onion, garlic, and salt. Some devotees can use rock salt.