Pre-Vedic prescription

Anish Yadav
IX C, Radiant International School, Patna

Chhath Puja, the ancient Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Surya and his wife Chhatti Maiyya (Usha) in which people worship the Sun God for their family’s well-being, is believed to predate the Veds.

The Rig Ved contains hymns in praise of the Sun God and prescribes similar rituals. The rituals also find mention in the epic Mahabharat, where Draupadi is depicted observing similar rituals. In it, Draupadi and the Pandavas, rulers of Indraprastha (modern Delhi), performed the Chhath rituals on the advice of a noble sage, Dhaumya. By thus worshipping the Sun God, Draupadi was not only able to solve her immediate problems, but also helped the Pandavas regain their lost kingdom.

The yogic/scientific history of Chhath dates back to Vedic times. The rishis of yore managed without any intake of food by obtaining energy directly from the Sun’s rays.

There’s a Chhath history linked to Lord Ram of Ayodhya too. It is believed that Lord Ram and Sita of Mithila had kept a fast and offered puja to the Sun God in the month of Kartik in Shukla Paksh, during their coronation on returning to Ayodhya after their 14-year-exile.

And it is observed to this day. Ghats have been spruced up, roads wiped clean and all arrangements made as residents of states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh gear up to observe the most important festival. It is also considered one of the most difficult festivals, with rituals spanning over four days. Those doing the Puja, mostly women, have to go without food and water for long durations over these four days. On the first day, “Nahan Khan” or “Nahai Khai”, worshippers take a
dip in a river or pond in the morning and carry home water from the same water body. The water is used to prepare prasad (offerings) for the Sun God. The house and its surroundings are then cleaned. These worshippers have only one meal on this day.

Day 2 is called “Lohanda”, when women fast for the whole day, ending it only after sunset.

And then begins another 36-hour-long fast during which they are not even allowed a sip of water. On the day of Chhath, after preparing prasad, they take a holy dip in the water body in the evening and worship the Sun God and Chhatti Maiyya. The entire household, friends and acquaintances, accompany the women to the riverbank or pond as they offer “Sandhya arghya” (evening offerings) to the setting sun, while others singing folk songs meant for the occasion.

On Day 4, devotees gather around the same river or pond and offer “Usha arghya” (morning offerings) to the rising sun. Worshippers break their fast after this Puja.

Children enjoy this festival a lot; they celebrate it with great enthusiasm and burst crackers. Special Chhath songs are a hit every year. People dance a lot and celebrate it with a lot of fanfare.

Perspective of  Chhath

Anshu Rai
Class VIIID, Radiant International School, Patna

Chhath Parva, also called Chhath Puja, Chhath, Chhatti, Dala Chhath, Surya Shasthi, etc. is a festival dedicated to the Sun God (Surya Bhagwan). The festival is celebrated mainly in northern India, including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, it has also started to be celebrated by the people of Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Mumbai, Delhi, Nepal, and Mauritius.

The festival is dedicated to Surya (Sun God) Bhagwaan, which people believe sustains life on the earth. The puja is also performed to seek blessings from Surya to live longer, healthy and prosper all through the life. The festival is celebrated in between the months of October and November.

Hindu people believe that the early sunlight helps to cure many diseases and is a great source of healing too. Here is a brief introduction of the significance of Chhath Puja.

As per yogic philosophy, the physical or exterior forms of all living beings are highly advanced energy channels.

The solar bio-electricity starts moving into the human body when it is exposed to solar radiations of a particular wavelength. Under specific physical and mental conditions, the absorption as well as the conduction of this solar-bio-electricity goes higher.

The rituals of Chhath Puja aim at making up the body & the mind of the devotee (vrati) for cosmic solar-energy infusion. In ancient times, the rishis used the same process as we do during Chhath Puja without taking any kind of solid or liquid diet. The same process helped them absorb energy needed for life directly from the Sun instead of food and water.

The retina is a type of photoelectric substance that emits slight energy when kept in the light. So, very fine energy starts moving from the retina. This photo-bio-electricity is transferred from the retina to the pineal gland by the optic nerves linking the retina to the pineal glands that activates it.

The pineal gland with the hypothalamus and pituitary glands- together called triveni is near these as a result of which, the energy produced in the process starts affecting these glands too. As a result, the pranic activity becomes regular, giving the devotee (vrati) a peaceful mind a healthy body.

The process of Chhath Puja focuses on the mental discipline of the devotee. The aim of it is to take the devotee towards mental purity. By the help of many rituals, the Chhath vrati focuses in maintaining the utmost cleanliness in all offerings and the environment. During this festival, the one thing that remains on top is the cleanliness.

This lays a great detoxification effect on the mind and body as it results in biochemical changes. The 36-hour-long fasting allows a complete detoxification of the body. A complete detox helps in maintaining the flow of prana and makes the devotee more energetic. The natural immune system uses the energy to fight the toxins present in the body.

Festival of tradition & simplicity

Saurav Suman
Class X,St Dominic Savio’s High School

The word Chhath is a compound of two words — chah meaning six stages and hath referring to the science of hath yog (austerity).

The Puja is performed to thank the Sun God for sustaining life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes.

The prayer entails preparations for purification of the soul and can be performed by anyone irrespective of caste or religion, as the festival is a way to pure the mind and the soul. The word, Chhath, denotes the number 6 in Hindi, and the festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik.

The word Chhath refers to the process of consciously obtaining the solar energy through six stages involving the methods of hath yog. Hath here refers to the austerities such as fasting and standing in water. While the exact origin of Chhath Puja remains undefined and ambiguous, some believe it dates all the way back to Hindu epics Ramayan and Mahabharat. Some say this Puja has its roots in science, as it helps the human body get rid of toxins.

Taking dips in the water and exposing oneself to the sun increase the flow of solar bioelectricity that improves the overall functionality of the human body. Some also believe that this Puja helps eliminate harmful bacteria and virus from the body, thus preparing one for the onset of winter.

Chhath is a festival of cleanliness. People clean their houses and surroundings. There are many mythological stories behind Chhath. People observe fast during Chhath to show their belief in the Sun God. They cook their food on mud hearths. In rural areas, people use mango wood to make their food. Food is very simple and includes rock salt.

Chhath also shows simplicity. People forget the gap among castes and religions and share things with others.

Community lunch services are organised for entire villages or localities.

The four-day festival unites people and teaches them the lesson of simplicity and purity. The government also pays special attention to this. Ghats are cleaned and levelled. People are given information about dangerous ghats and facilities provided there. Chhath is also celebrated to show respect to the river Ganga as our mother. Other rivers such as Yamuna and others are also given respect. People visit the Ganga on two days — before sunset on the first day and before sunrise on the second. There are many scientific reasons for these timings. The sunrays during this time is considered beneficial for health.

For a Bihari, Chhath is not merely a festival, it is a way of life. It makes them leave everything in their lives and head straight home, no matter wherever they are. It is the time to head back to your roots. It is the time when the family bonds and feels rooted more than ever. The rituals keep generations of Biharis more connected to their land and people.