NRIs watching over Skype mothers and aunts performing Chhath rituals. Thekuas and gujias being couriered overseas. Tailored new clothes for rituals.

These are only a few changes in this ageless festivity with rigorous rituals, penance and purification while offering prayers to the Sun and his wife Usha or Chhathi Maiya in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties on Earth and to request from them certain boons.

Retired Ranchi University professor Rita Shukla, 67, who has been performing Chhath since 1967, laughs.

“Our great-grandmothers, grandmothers or even my own mother never wore clothes stitched by tailors. They only draped themselves in thick linen and performed the Puja for three days without food and water. But now, I, my daughter and most of the other women around do wear stitched clothes,” she said.

This small concession to modernity apart, the Ranchi resident said the power of Chhath was an abiding mystery.

“I don't know from where I gain the strength to stay without food, water and even essential medicines for three consecutive days,” said the septuagenarian.

“How I walk up to the Chhath ghat barefoot and make thekua, gujia and other prasads on firewood (chulha) is a mystery. On normal days, my health doesn’t permit me to work even for 15 minutes in my modular kitchen. I cannot keep standing for even 30 minutes at a stretch. But during Chhath, I go to the ghat barefoot and worship the Sun God standing in waist-deep water for nearly four hours. Once, a lady from Thailand asked me why I followed all these rituals. I said I wanted to gain eternal strength,” she smiled.

She added this held true for millions of other women.

“And, I am sure this time too Chhathi Maiya will help me smoothly get past this test,” she added.

Nothing else has changed since ages, Shukla affirmed. “The same soop and daura (winnowers and bamboo baskets), the same seasonal fruits, thekuas and gujias were offered to the deity. There’s the same attention to cleanliness and sanctity of homes and surroundings,” she said.

She also added that Chhath bound all sections of society into one. “Bamboo baskets and fruits are mainly bought from Muslim traders. Kumhars (potters) make earthen pots, gwalas (milkmen) give milk and cow dung cakes. And, everyone from all socio-economic strata clean up the Chhath ghats and roads and bylanes leading to them,” she said.

One of the most eco-friendly and oldest festivals, Chhath finds mention in the Vedas and is scientific.

“The Sun is responsible for all life on this planet, for health, for harvests and for renewable energy,” she said. “The power of the Sun keeps life going. Chhath reminds us to pay our homage to this eternal miracle.”