Chhath

Usually observed by the two important communities in India named the believers of Hinduism and Jainism, prominent Chhath Puja festival remains a must see in the northern, middle and some western parts of India. The festival is very much noticed for its other values from cultural to religious and historic importance it has. This festival usually starts just 2 days before the Kartik Shasti and remains one noticed for the significant time to celebrate.

As it is assumed, Chhath Puja is most often celebrated and organized in the country through thanking the Sun or Surya God to get the wishes fulfilled. It remains major time for the worshippers especially Hindus who pray for getting their unfulfilled wishes fulfilled, for that they involve and organize this festival for the specific days.

History

Chhath Puja has a great history for its celebration, joyfulness and rigorousness. As this festival begins just 2 days before the Kartik Shasti and ends just a day after the Kartik Shasti it remains a major festival in the Indian subcontinent. Main day of the celebration is Kartik Shukla Shasti day. The celebration of Chhath Puja usually falls in the October to November months of the Gregorian calendar every year.

As it is an ancient Hindu festival its values are worth noticing. This festival is mainly dedicated to Hindu Sun God Surya and then remains the only Vedic Festival that is now considered too much relevant with the name Surya Shashti in the present time as well. Its values and relevance has been increasing each passing of the day.

Celebrations

Dedicated involvement in several prayers and religious rituals from organizing of the puja to distribution of prasads and last but not the least fasting and bathing in the Ganges River et al are the parts of this celebration. This religious celebration is very much a thanksgiving option to the Surya God. Likewise, this festival is also known for helping the earth through sustaining life on it. Equally are its various celebrations crucial for the requests that worshippers make to the God to grant the specific wishes of theirs through worshipping the Sun God.

Usually this festival is organized for 4 days in which rigorous rituals are performed to please the Sun God for fulfilling wishes. The key attractions of Chhath Puja are the celebrations of holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water during the festive season. Any worshipper observing this Puja is supposed to stand inside water for longer time period and to continue with offering prashads or the prayer offerings in front of the rising sun during this festival. Various such things remain valuable parts of the festival organized in India.

Importance of Festival

There is a constant increase in the value and importance of Chhath Puja in India in the current scenario. As Sun is assumed an important God of energy and power due to its life-force features it remains into limelight. This special God gets worshiped on the special day of Chhath festival in India. The festival is celebrated with total zeal in various parts of the country. It also remains an occasion to plead before the Sun God for the wish fulfillment and to peruse him for overall wellbeing, prosperity and growth of the worshipper during this festival time.

Some more reasons which keep Chhath Puja into limelight are that according to the Hindu belief Sun is powerful enough to cure various diseases especially leprosy disease. That is why Chhath Puja is given so much value and worships are always encouraged. Prayers are organized to seek the blessings of the Sun God for overall prosperity of the entire family especially for the elder members of the family.

Having gained popularity in several parts of India, Chhath Puja is very much in the limelight and is popular in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern UP. Equally is this festival popular in the neighboring country of Nepal’s Terai region. Few more states in the northern part of the country where Chhath has gained popularity are Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Delhi and Maharashtra etc. It is one such festival that has also gained too much popularity in Mauritius as well where large number of Hindus reside.

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