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What is Chhath puja, and how is it celebrated?

What is Chhath Puja and how is it celebrated?


By Intimate Viewpoint




The introduction of 'Chhath puja' 


The 'Chhath Puja is one of the main festivals of Hindus. As I have mentioned before that it is a Hindu festival so, in this way it is a religious festival also. It is mainly the festival of Bihar and Jharkhand. Because in Bihar and Jharkhand it is as celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm as Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in Maharashtra and Durga Puja in West Bengal.

It is also celebrated for 4 days as same as Durga Puja.


When do Chhath is celebrated


Chhath Puja is celebrated on the 6th day of Diwali. In the Hindi calendar, it is celebrated in the month of Kartik, and in the English calendar, it is celebrated in the month of November. 






How does Chhath puja celebrate?


On the 6th day of Deepavali, it is celebrated. On the 6th day and on the 7th day Surya Bhagwan (the sun) is worshipped. Those particular who worship Surya Dev do fast for two days without having a drop of water. After the 7th day of worshipping, they have water or food. Although, the two days basically are considered Chhath Puja. But actually, it starts after 4 days of Deepavali. And the two extra days are also as important as the two main days.

The onions and garlic are not added to cooking on these four days it is because the Hindi culture and tradition do not allow eating onion and garlic at any festival.





The importance of the four days in this festival 


As I said before that the four days of this festival are important equally. In that home where the Chhath Puja is celebrated, the total family members get engaged for these four days. This is because:

* On the first day (Kaddu Bhat) 

'Kaddu' mins Lowcki or bottle gourd. This particular vegetable is a must for this festival. And 'Bhat' means boiled rice.

For those who do fast for this festival, eating this vegetable is compulsory. On this day they eat anything after taking a bath and more neatly and cleanliness. They eat rice with chana dal and vegetables from bottle gourd. With this action, they start this festival.

* On the second day (Karna)

The second day means the next day after Kaddu Bhat. The particular people remain fast for the whole day on this day without taking a drop of water. Then, in the evening they cook Kheer. But they don't cook it on Gass, but they cook it on a wood fire and in a special and a neat and clean place. And have it in a quiet, and in a lonely place.

In this way, they spend this second.


*On the third day (Pahla Aragh)

Pahla means first, and Aragh means the water that is offered to the sun by facing towards the sun and with meditation.

There is a unique form of worship is seen in this festival. Many kinds of fruits, and vegetables, and raw spices are offered to the sun, by placing them in a Soop (a special kind of thing made of bamboo) or in a copper plate or Soop.

This worship is done during the sunset. In this way, The Pahla Aragh is completed.


* On the fourth and the last day (Dusra Aragh)

Dusra means the second. This day is especially known as Dusra Aragh. On this day, the water is offered to the Sun God during sunrise. 

From the dawn of 3 a.m., people go to the seaside or river-side and wait for the sun to be Rise. And then the water and all other things are also offered to the rising sun. In this way, the worship of the 4th day is also completed.




In the whole description of this great and unique festival, one thing I skipped to mention and that is also a very crucial part of this festival. The whole process of this great festival is done in the water bodies. 

The particular people who do fast, have to do meditation by joining hands, and closing their eyes in the water by wearing wet clothes, and waiting for the sun till setting down and on the next day for the sun till rising up. The whole festival is unique and matchless. Such a type of conviction is rarely seen anywhere. And the scene that is seen these days, is quite difficult to be explained in words.

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