Chhath Puja is a Hindu festival, which is mainly celebrated in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand. In this festival, devotees worship Chhathi Maiya and Sun God and observe a strict fast. Chhath Puja, which is considered one of the important religious festivals of Hindus, lasts for 4 days. It is celebrated twice a year in the months of Chaitra and Kartik. It is believed that by observing the fast, all your wishes are fulfilled and happiness remains in the family. But mainly mothers observe Chhath fast with the wish of long life and happy life of their children. This fast is considered special for women who wish to have children. There are some stories related to Chhath Puja.
History of Chhath Puja
The tradition of Chhath Puja started. When Lord Shri Ram returned to Ayodhya after conquering Lanka and 14 years of exile, he decided to perform Rajsurya Yagya on the orders of sages and saints to free himself from the sins of Ravana. He invited Mugdal Rishi for the puja. Mugdal Rishi purified Mother Sita by sprinkling Gangajal on her and ordered to worship the Sun God on the sixth day of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. Mother Sita stayed at the ashram of Mugdal Rishi and worshiped the Sun God for six days. She performed the ritual again at sunrise on Saptami and received blessings from the Sun God. It is believed that this tradition has been going on during Chhath festival since then till today.
Beginning of Chhath Puja
Chhath Mahaparva started from the Mahabharata period. This festival was first started by Suryaputra Karna by worshipping the Sun. Karna was the king of Anga state of Bihar, he was the son of Surya and Kunti. Karna was an ardent devotee of the Sun God and he used to stand in water for several hours every day and offer Arghya to him. He became a great warrior by the grace of the Sun. Even today, this tradition of offering Arghya is prevalent in Chhath.
During the Mahabharata period, Draupadi also kept the Chhath fast. When the Pandavas lost their kingdom in gambling, Draupadi kept the Chhath fast. Her wish was also fulfilled and she got her kingdom back. According to folk tradition, the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya have a brother-sister relationship. Therefore, worshipping the Sun on the occasion of Chhath is considered fruitful.
What is the story of chhath
According to the Puranas, King Priyamvad had no children. Maharishi Kashyap performed a yagya to get a son and gave the kheer prepared for the yagya to Priyamvad’s wife Malini. Later, Malini gave birth to a son, but he was born dead. Priyamvad became sad. He went to the crematorium with his son and tried to give up his life in the grief of his son’s separation. At that very moment, Lord Brahma’s Manas Putri appeared. The king asked who are you – she said I am Shashthi because I am born from the sixth part of the basic nature of the creation. She told the king – Rajan, you worship me and inspire others to do the same, then you will get freedom from this sorrow. After this, the king fasted for Goddess Shashthi with the desire of having a son and he got a son. Since then, Shashthi i.e. Chhathi Maiya has been worshipped.
Rules of Chhath Puja
- During Chhath Puja, it is necessary to clean all the grains used in the Prasad properly. It is prepared at home by washing, pounding and grinding it. During this, special care is taken to ensure that birds do not make the grains impure. The grains used in Chhath Prasad should not be touched by feet even by mistake. Doing so can anger Chhathi Maiya.
- While preparing Chhath Prasad, make sure that the stove is new. The stove should be such that it can be cleaned daily. If you use gas, then you should use a new stove. Which is taken out every year only on the day of Chhath. The stove used earlier in Chhath Puja is not reused.
- For the puja, only bamboo baskets and baskets should be used. Steel or glass utensils should never be used during Chhath Puja. Prasad is also made in pure ghee. Only fruits are used in it. In such a situation, the person observing the fast should take special care that steel and glass utensils are not used.
- Do not allow small children to touch any puja items and do not give any prasad until the puja is over.
- Women who observe fast should not sleep on a bed or cot for four days. They should sleep on a cloth spread on the floor.
- During Chhath festival, the entire family including the fasting person should consume satvik food.
- Clean your hands before picking up any item for worship.
- Keep in mind that the vessel with which you are offering water to the Sun God should not be made of silver, steel, plastic or glass.
Materials for Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja materials include two large bamboo baskets, a coconut with water, a glass for milk and water, a lota and plate, spoon, 5 sugarcane leaves, sweet potato and suthani, betel leaf and betel nut, custard apple, turmeric, banana, pear, radish and green ginger plant, water chestnut, sweets, big sweet Dabh lemon, jaggery, wheat, rice flour, rice, Thekua, vermilion, Kalawa, lamp, honey, incense, new sari, flower garlands.
What do you do in Chhath Puja?
- On the first day, there is Nahai-Khai, in which the women who observe fast take bath in a holy river or water body, eat satvik food, clean the house. On this day, only pumpkin vegetable (lauki), gram dal and rice have special importance in food.
- Kharna is on the second day. On the day of Kharna, the fasting people observe a waterless fast for the whole day and break the fast after sunset by preparing prasad.
Also read : Who should observe Ekadashi fast, rules and benefits of observing this fast
- Kheer made of jaggery, roti and fruits are consumed as prasad. Only after this the next 36 hours of difficult waterless fast begins.
- On the third day of Chhath, the fasting person stands in a river or a source of water in the evening and offers arghya to the setting sun. The whole family and the people around also participate in this process. They all offer arghya to the sun.
- On the last day of Chhath Puja, arghya is offered to the first ray of the rising sun. The whole family also participates in this process. After offering arghya to the rising sun, the fasting people break their fast and take prasad.
Why is Chhath Puja celebrated in Bihar
According to religious belief, Mother Sita performed the first Chhath Puja on the banks of Ganga in Munger, Bihar. After which the great festival Chhath started. Chhath is considered the great festival of Bihar. This festival is celebrated with great pomp and show not only in Bihar but also in other states of the country and abroad. That is why Chhath Puja is celebrated in Bihar.
Questions asked regarding Chhath Puja
What is the purpose of Chhath Puja?
The main objective of Chhath Puja is to have faith in nature, dedication and to receive the blessings of Sun God. In this festival, people do special worship of sunset and sunrise.
What is the connection between Surya and Chhathi Maiya?
There is a brother-sister relationship between Surya and Chhathi Maiya.
Why is Chhath Puja important for Biharis?
The festival further fosters community spirit when thousands of people gather at water reservoirs to offer prayers and participate in various rituals. It is a time of communal bonding and cultural expression. Chhath Puja glorifies the Sun God and symbolizes family unity, good health and respect for nature.
Why do Chhath Puja?
By performing Chhath Puja, one gets the blessings of Lord Surya and also the problems related to children get resolved.
What is the benefit of performing Chhath Puja?
By performing Chhath Puja, happiness, prosperity, wealth and fame are attained. Children get long life and happiness and prosperity.
Whose wife is Chhath Mata?
Chhath Mata is the wife of Kartik, son of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati.