| Festivals |
Chhath Puja
A week after the festival of lights, Diwali, is celebrated chhath. For one night, people of
Bihar virtually live on the banks of river Ganga and other water pools to offer obeisance to Sun
god.
Since the obeisance has to
be offered from mid-water, the
ideal venue for this unique festivity is .the banks of rivers. The
festival is dedicated to the worship of Sun god and is, therefore,
also known as Surya Shashti
Chhath is considered to be an
opportunity to thank Sun god for
bestowing the bounties of life on
earth and also to pray for fulfilment of wishes. |
| The word Chhath denotes
the number six and, thus, the
festival begins on the sixth day
of the Hindu month of Kartik in
the Hindu lunar calendar, corresponding to October-November.
It is one of the holiest festivals
for Biharis and extends for four
days with the devotees offering
prayers on the last sunset and
sunrise from the middle of a
water pool. |
| It's popularly believed that all the
wishes of the devotees are fulfilled
during Chhath. Also, an element of
fear is present among the devotees
who dread the punishment for mi
deeds during Chhath. So much so
that even criminals stop their activities for these four days and the stale
becomes a safer place to live in. |
Day 1: Devotees take a dip,
preferably in the holy river Ganga,
and bring the sacred river water 10
prepare offerings.
Day 2: Devotees observe a fast for
he whole day, which is broken in
ate evening after offering prayers at
home. The offerings - 'kheer', 'puri'
and bananas - are then distributed
mong family and friends.
Day 3: The day is spent preparing
the offerings at home. In the
evening, the devotees along with
their family and friends move to a
riverbank or a pond. There, the
offerings are made to the setting
sun. At nightfall, the devotees
along with the family and friends
return home where another
colourful celebration takes place.
Clay elephants containing earthen
lamps and containers full of the
offerings are placed under a
canopy of sugarcane sticks. There
the god of fire is worshipped.
Day 4: On the final day of the festivities, the devotees and their
family and friends again move to
the riverbank before sunrise.
Offerings are made to the rising
sun this time. At the completion of
the offerings, the devotees break
their fast. It is a joyous and colourful festival. While fasting devotees
have to wear unstitched, new
cloths, others are dressed in their
best attire.
Devotional songs reverberate in
the air, purifying the whole atmosphere. Folksongs are sung both at
home and on the riverbank. Each and every street is cleaned by volunteers, who also decorate all the streets leading to rivers and
ponds with illuminating lights and colourful festoons and banners.
Strict vegetarian menu is followed in every home, and even onions and garlic are considered a taboo during the four-day festivities. All possible purity of food is ensured.
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