Chhath Parva or Surya Shashthi is a festival dedicated to the Sun god Surya. The Sun, since Vedic times was considered the source of the power of nature, energy, and enabler of life on Earth. It is worshiped for well-being, prosperity, warding off illness, sanitizing, preserving, and healing. People worship the Sun to thank him and to sustain his blessings. The other names of Sun god are Bhaskara, Aditya, Prabhakar, Mitra, Ravi, etc.
Chhathi Maiya is the daughter of Lord Brahma and sister to Surya. She is worshiped as the primary deity of the festival, called Chhath Vrat. After Brahma created the Universe, he needed to populate it and divide himself into two. His right side became Purush and the left side became Prakriti. Chhathi Maiya is the sixth part of Prakriti Devi and thus the name Chatthi or Sixth part. Maiya means mother. She is also called the Devsena. Her blessings are sought for the well-being of one's children. Blessings from her also help bear children to the childless.
Chhath Parva is observed for four days - Kartik masa shukala chaturthi (the fourth day from the new moon, the waxing phase of the moon in a Hindu calendar month of Karthik that fall in October-November) to Kartik shukala saptami (the seventh day from the new moon). This festival is also called as the Kartik Shukla Shashthi Chhath. There is another Chhath that is celebrated in the Chaitra Shashti (the sixth day from the new moon of Chaitra masa that falls in early summer about March or April) and is called Chaiti Chhath. These days mark the change of the position of the Sun for the northern hemisphere; marking the start of winter and the other the beginning of summer.
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| Chhath Parva Celebration (Photo Wiki) |
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| Ladies Involved in Preparation for Puja (Photo Basant) |
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| Beginning of Chhath Mahotsav with Holy Bathing (Photo Basant) |
The ritual of Chhath Parva includes taking holy baths, fasting, standing and worshiping the Sun for a long time, and offering Arghya to the setting and rising Surya. The vratii (the lead devotee in the family, generally an elder or the mother) observe total fasting for one and a half-day. All family members, even if they are not the main vratii, need to follow strict dietary restrictions.
The first day of celebration is Naha Khai means bathe and eat. It is on chaturthi (the fourth day from the new moon). People take a dip, in a water body near their dwelling and bring home holy water to prepare the prasad (offerings.) The house and surroundings are fully cleaned. Kaddu Bhaat, a rice preparation with bottle gourd and bengal gram lentil, is made and given as bhog (offerings) to the deity in the afternoon. The devotees eat that in the evening, the only one meal on this day.
The next day is Kharna or Lohandra or Rasiav Roti. This is the second day of the festival, on panchami (the fifth day from the new moon). This day people observe fasting ending in the evening after the sunset. Just after the worship of earth, the offerings of gur-ki-kheer (rice pudding cooked in jaggery), fruits, and puris are distributed. After the meal, vratii observe fasting for the next 36 hours even without water.
The third day of the festival is sandhya arghya or pehli arghya. It is on shashthi (the sixth day of the new moon). In the evening the family accompanies the vratii to go to the water bodies. Prayers are offered to the setting Sun and sandhya arghya (evening offerings) is made. People prepare prasad (offerings) at their homes during the day. People gather together and perform cultural programs in the evening.
On this night, kosi bharai is held after sunset. The lights are lit late in the evening. The lamps are kept under a canopy of five sugarcane sticks. This signifies the human body made of pancha tatwa described by Ayurveda. The five elements are Earth, water, fire, air, and ether. The lamp represent solar power that sustain the human body. This ritual is performed in those families where marriage or childbirth has taken place recently.
The final day of the festival is usha arghya or bihaniya arghya or dusri arghya. This is on the saptami (the seventh day of the new moon). Vratii, along with their family go to the water body before sunrise. Some devotees go to river banks to worship Surya by prostrating themselves the entire distance. They make the Usha or Bihaniya Arghya (morning offering) to the rising Surya. The festival ends with the breaking of the fast by the vratii. Prasad is distributed and gatherings of family and friends end the celebration.
This festival is a symbol of equality and fraternity. Every household makes similar offerings irrespective of their economic or social standing. They all consume similar food, offer similar offerings, and practice similar rituals. Everyone in the vicinity worship in the same water body at the same time.
There are beautiful songs that are sung during Chhath Parva mainly in the dialects of Bhojpuri, Maithili & Magahi. They sing praises of Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya. The lyrics of these song talks about the preservation of water bodies, conservation of forests, sustainable living, climate change, harmonious living with fellow beings, plants, and animals. They carry social messages that have a very wide reach.
This festival is also said to be one of the healthiest and eco-friendly. Dietary restrictions and fasting lead to detoxication of the body. The exposure of the body to sunlight during rituals at dawn and dusk is when the rays are least harmful. Sunlight exposure is needed for chemical synthesis in the body and also kills microbes, and the vrat helps prepare the body for its absorption. The vratti undergoes glandular activations and help activate their mental states. Cleanliness is another important aspect of this festival. Water bodies and households are cleaned. There is also no wastage as everything used in the festival is reused. This yogic kriya helps overall balance within the body and its ecosystem.
Chhath Parva is completed by praying to rid the world of darkness. This ancient Vedic ritual is celebrated by people of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhesh regions of Nepal, Terai, and Jharkhand. The diaspora practice this festival. Today this festival is a great unifier of society and a reason to get our extended families connected. And we all seek Chhath Maiya's blessings.
You can read stories associated with Chhath Parva in this link Story of Chhath Parva
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