Chhath Puja is a festival celebrated in reverence to the Sun God. The festival commences with the end of Deepavali. It entails preparations for the purification of the soul. It can be performed by anyone irrespective of caste or religion as the festival is a way to pure mind and soul. However, Chaath Puja of Bihar is particularly famous. The festival is also celebrated in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Delhi and Chandigarh.
Rituals of Chhath Puja Chhath Puja is celebrated by all in utmost reverence. The spirit of cleanliness rules the celebrations. During the Puja people focus on cleaning their internal selves by fasting for 36 continuous hours. The houses are cleaned properly and people go in for a holy dip on the first day of the festival which is celebrated over a span of four days. Parvaitin (the major worshipper who observes all the rituals associated with the fast) is allowed only one time meal of special components the first day. The next day, Parvaitin can only eat after the sunset and the worship of sun god in the evening and this marks the beginning of 36 hours fast for the Parvaitin. The third day is when Parvaitin is accompanied by entire family and friends to the nearby water body. Here, offerings to sun are given amidst loud noise of folk songs. The final day Parvaitin ends the fast with the final offering to the sun god after which prashad is distributed all.
Other rituals associated with the fast are eating salt less food and reserving all the earthen vessels for the Puja.
It is said that Chhath Puja has a healing effect on the body, if it is performed the right way. As per the Yogic Philosophy, fasting, praying to sun and eating during a particular time increases the mind and body discipline of the body.
Chhath Puja of Bihar is famous all across India as it is here that the festival is still celebrated in its traditional and pure form. Following information will help you reach the city of Bihar, where you can be a witness to elaborate festivities of Chhath.
Features of Chhath Puja:
- The house is cleaned thoroughly.
- Family members go for a holy dip.
- Salt less vegetarian menu is observed.
- All earthen vessels are reserved for Chhath Puja
- People have to sleep on the floor and clothes are to be unstitched.
- A person observing Chaath is known as Parvati.
- Parvati fasts from dawn to dusk, which ends with sweets.
- It is followed by another 36 hours fast till the next dawn.
- Chhath Puja is performed at the river bank on this day much before sunrise.
- The most devoted observers remain in water from late midnight till dawn.
- At dawn, the river is flooded with offerings to the sun followed by breakfast and prasad distribution among the gatherings.
- Chhath Puja can best be seen at Deo in Aurangabad and Baragaon near Nalanda in Bihar. Both the places are famous for their sun temples. The temple at Deo faces west unlike other sun temples of India.
By Air: Patna, the capital city of Bihar, has an airport. It is connected by air with Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Ranchi, Bangalore, Goa, Indore and Ahmedabad.
By Rail: Indian Railways train services connect several places of Bihar to the other major cities in India. There are even some very cheap trains that head to the state of Bihar from various locations in India
By Road: Internal road network of the state connects Patna with other tourist destinations of Bihar and other cities of India. As many as 26 National Highways can connect you to the state of Bihar. Besides, Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation also runs buses to several places in India.
Last Updated on 10/24/2011
