A festival dedicated to the Sun God, Chhath Puja is all about an expression of gratitude and a prayer for good times ahead.

Significance & History

The festival is largely celebrated in the northern part of India especially in Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh as well as in the Madhesh region of Nepal. This festival does not involve idol worship and involves praying at the first ray (Usha) and the last ray (Pratyusha) of the Sun. Rituals are rigorous and typically done for four days where staunch devotees take a holy bath and fast and abstain from drinking water (Vratta). Some people even pray by standing in water for a long time and offer prayers to the rising and setting sun. A festival dedicated to the Sun God Surya and Goddess Shashthi who is called Chhathi Maiyya, there have been references to the same in the epics – Ramayana and Mahabharata. 

The Rigveda has hymns worshipping the Sun God and it is believed that Karna, son of the Sun God started this practice. It is said that when Rama and Sita returned to Ayodhya people celebrated Diwali and Ramrajya was established on the sixth day. It was on this day that Rama and Sita fasted and Sita performed the Surya Shashthi or Chhath Puja on that date. It is believed that she conceived after this to give birth to Luv and Kush. There is a reference to Chhath Puja in the Mahabharata as well as it is believed that Kunti did this puja after the Pandavas escaped from Lakshagraha. Draupadi and the Pandavas also performed this puja to solve their problems in the Mahabharata. Interestingly, the festival is not gender specific and some communities believe that it is a tradition that must be followed every (except the year when there is a death in the family) and must be passed on to the next generation.

Sun Salutation

Celebrated over four days, Chhath Puja involves cleaning the house completely and cooking vegetarian food (without salt, onions and garlic) that is offered to the Sun. The first day is called Nahay Khay where the devotee bathes in the river like the Ganga and carries back some holy water home. Women usually fast and eat only one meal on this day. Lohanda and Kharna is the second day of Chhath Puja celebration where women fast for a day and end it after sundown. The fast lasts about 36 hours after eating kheer prasad on the second day. 

Sandhya Arghya is the third day when prasad is made and the entire family visits the bank of any large water body in the evening where it is offered to the setting sun. Usha Arghya is the fourth day when morning offerings are made to the sun at the crack of dawn. Women break their fast and distribute the prasad to all. The food prepared is saatvik and includes Lal Saag, a green dish cooked with ginger, red chilli and turmeric, Seeta Phel ki Sabji, a curry made with pumpkin, ginger and spices as well as Chaawal ki Kheer, a rice-based dessert that is made with the long grain Basmati rice, milk, cardamom and sugar.

Benefits 

Chhath puja is said to be one of the most ecofriendly festivals as it does not involve any idols and is a prayer to the Sun God and is typically observed by women for their children and families wellbeing. It is said that it helps people absorb Vitamin D as this festival is in the month of Kartik and the vitamin that comes from UVB rays is predominant at sun set and sunrise. In fact, this is also a festival that is believed to help rid the body of toxicity as taking a dip in water and sun exposure increases the flow of solar bio-electricity. 

It is also said that Chhath Puja helps eliminate harmful bacteria and viruses from the body that helps deal with the ensuing winter season too. There is also a school of thought that believes that the refraction of the sun rays on the water creates seven colors and the energy emanating from these rays when absorbed by the body balances any doshas. The festival is also supposed to be beneficial for the eyes and improves mind power. Chathh Puja is unique not just for the fact that it is dedicated to the Sun but also the fact that it involves worship near a water body.