CHHATH IS A GRAND FESTIVAL OF FAITH, PURITY AND DEVOTION

CHHATH IS A GRAND FESTIVAL OF FAITH, PURITY AND DEVOTION

30-OCT-ENG 46

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------Of all creatures in the universe, humans are the most thoughtful, discerning, and active. Their keen intellect has provided them with the steps of evolution, but it must be admitted that science has not yet destroyed the tender emotions within us. We smile in happiness and shed tears in sorrow. These expressions of joy and sorrow are the origins of festivals.

Indian culture has an ancient tradition of sun worship. Chhath Mahaparva is a special observance of that tradition. Although Indian literature envisions thirty-three crore gods, only two are visible today: Bhuvan Bhaskar (Dinamani Dinesh) and Nishanath Rakesh (Moon). The Sun's appearance illuminates the world, whose rays benefit all living and non-living beings, and whose glory is sung without hesitation by all creatures of the universe. Chhath Mahaparva is celebrated to worship and venerate that same Sun God, the Sun. It is synonymous with devotees' obeisance, veneration, and greetings to the Sun.

Chhath Vrat is generally observed throughout North India, but Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh have a special tradition of celebrating this festival. The six-day period following Diwali is filled with joy. Naraka Chaturdashi is celebrated on the Chaturdashi of the Krishna Paksha of Kartik month, and Diwali on the new moon day. Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. Kayasthas celebrate Chitragupta Puja on this day, and then comes the sacred festival of Chhath.

The Chaturthi Tithi is known as Nahan-Khaay in the local language. On this day, Chhath devotees consume pumpkin curry, gram dal, and rice cooked in a sacred manner as prasad. All these offerings are cooked in a sacred manner. The Panchami Tithi is called Lohra. On this day, devotees fast throughout the day and in the evening, they consume kheer-puri prasad. Neighbours, friends and well-wishers also accept this Prasad with love. Then comes the grand festival of Shashthi and Saptami. The Arghya of Shashthi is offered to the setting Sun. The Arghya is offered to the rising Sun on Saptami morning. It is believed that the evening Arghya is offered to Chhathi Mai and the morning Arghya is offered to Bhuvan Bhaskar. The song sung in the evening turns into a song Chhathi Maiya hohun na sahayee….. in the morning Surya Dev ko Suraj hohun na sahayee….

Sun worship has been going on in India since the Vedic period. The Vedic verses chanted as the Gayatri Mantra are: Om Bhurbhuvah Swah. Tatsavituravarenyam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Dhiyo Yo Na Prachodayat.*

Bihar has three very famous Sun Temples: Devmunga in Aurangabad district, Devchanda in Bhojpur, and Devpadsar in Rohtas. Chronologically, these temples also appear to date back to the 12th century. It is believed that Vishwakarma himself constructed these Sun Temples. The newly constructed Sun Temple in Bundu, by Sanskriti Vihar in Chota Nagpur, is unique and unparalleled. The groundbreaking ceremony for this temple took place on Sunday, November 5, 1989, the day of Surya Saptami. The foundation stone was laid by Jyotirpeethidhishwar Shankaracharya Swami Vasudevanand Ji, and the consecration was performed by the late Swami Vamdev Ji. This is India's largest Sun Temple, measuring 150 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 108 feet high. To the west of the Sun Temple, there is the Surya Sarovar, filled with clear water, for Chhath Puja in a peaceful and melodious atmosphere. The Sun Temple of Konark in Odisha is also unique in the world for its grandeur and architecture. It was built by the Kalinga King Maharaja Narsingh Dev with the help of his great sculptor Vishu.

Chhath is a highly sacred festival for Hindus. Truly, if the sanctity of the Chhath festival is infused into human life, it will surely become sun-filled and full of energy. The Sun is not only the giver of light but is also integrated into human life as the giver of all. A poet has rightly said that

if there were no beautiful festivals in Indian culture,

then even the burdensome human life would surely be a game.

The mantra for offering arghya in Surya worship is

Aihi Surya Sahasransho, Tejarashi Jagatpate.

Anukampaya Maam Bhaktaya, Arghaya Diwakar: