The Hindu community from all over the globe celebrates Chhath Puja, a Hindu festival, with great fervor. This is one of the most auspicious occasions to pray to the Surya dev. People worship the Sun God and his wife Usha on this day. The four-day gala's events this year will start on October 28 and end on October 31.
This festival is observed to give thanks to the creator for maintaining life on Earth and to ask the almighty Sun god and his wife for their favor. The sun is said to cure a number of illnesses and provide longevity, advancement, optimism, wealth, and well-being in Hinduism.
In today’s blog we will discuss the chhat pooja meaning, its background or reasons to celebrate and its association with Hindu epics. We will also explore the chhat pooja dress that women wear during auspicious prayer.
History And Significance
Chhath is a holiday that emphasizes holiness, devotion, and praying to the Sun God; its precise origin is unknown, although there are certain myths that link it to the Hindu epics. The two epics that are connected to Chhath Puja are the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
The origin of Chhath Puja is said to have something to do with Lord Rama. According to legend, Lord Rama and his wife Sita kept a fast in praise of the Sun deity when they got back to Ayodhya, and they only broke it when the sun was sinking. It is one of these rituals that has now developed into Chhath Puja.
It is claimed that Kunti and the Sun God had a kid named Karna. According to legend, Karna used to often offer prayers while standing in the sea. However, according to a different legend, Draupadi and the Pandavas also carried out a similar puja to reclaim their throne.
Scientific Significant
The greatest approach to detoxify your body is to participate in Chhath Puja since exposure to sunlight and taking baths in the water both stimulate the flow of solar bioelectricity, which enhances human body functioning. Additionally, it is said that Chhath Pooja helps to fight dangerous microorganisms and gets the body ready for the impending winter.
Rituals in Chhat Pooja
This chhath pooja festival is a four day event that is celebrated after the famous Indian festival Diwali. Here are the rituals that are performed during the chhat pooja.
Nahay Khay
On the early day of the Chhath Puja, worshippers took holy dips, ideally in the Kosi, Ganga, or Karnali, and then brought the holy water home to make the offerings. On the first day of Chhath Pooja, it is one of the most significant rites.
On this day, you can wear a silk saree with some golden zari work to make the look simple yet delicate. Choose yellow color fabric for saree as this shade is considered auspicious and also represents the sunlight.
Lohanda or Kharna
Devotees fasted throughout the second day of Chhath Puja, and the fast ended a bit later, after sunset. After worshiping the Sun and the Moon, devotees prepare delicious food for the family, such as kheer, bananas, and rice, in the second significant Chhath Puja rite. One must fast without drinking anything for 36 hours after eating the prasad.
On the occasion of Kharna, you can pick orange color fabric for your chhat puja dress. You can choose fabric out of cotton, satin, linen, chanderi and many more. Remember to wear heavy and traditional pearl jewelry during the pooja. You can carry chuda to complete the look.
Sandhya Arghya
Sandhya Arghya. In a bamboo tray, the offerings (prasad) are afterwards maintained. Thekua, coconut bananas, and other seasonal fruits are included in the offering. Evening rites on the third day are performed by the sides of a river, pond, or other clear body of water. Every devotee presents the setting sun with "araghya."
This is the main ritual of the 4-day event, and you should apt something traditional and auspicious for the offering. You can go for a rich yellow color fabric but if you have tried this shade for the first day then you can pick red color fabric for the pooja. Fabrics like organza, chiffon, georgette can be chosen to wear on this day.
Bihaniya Arghya
On the last day of Chhath Puja, worshippers gather once again beside a river or other body of water and offer prayers and prasad to the rising Sun. The devotees break their fast by eating ginger and sugar or whatever else that is locally accessible when the offerings are completed. The magnificent Chhath Puja celebration comes to a close after all these rites.
Choose a golden, green, orange color outfit for this day with simple makeup as morning light will add more shine to these shades.
FAQ
When is Chhath Puja celebrated?
The chhat puja festival will begin with Nahay Khay on the fourth day (Chaturthi) of Shukla Paksha in the Kartik month, and it will end with Usha/Bihaniya Arghya on the seventh day (Saptami).
Why is Chhath Puja celebrated
Hindu legend states that Draupadi and the Pandavas used to participate in the Chhath Puja in order to reclaim their Kingdom and find solutions to their problems. According to a different tale, Chhath Puja used to be performed by Karna, who was the son of Lord Surya and Kunti. During the time of the Mahabharata, he was the ruler of the Anga Desh, or modern-day Bhagalpur in Bihar.
Another story says that sages during the vedic time also used to perform the rituals by exposing directly to sunlight to gain energy from the sun.
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