Bihar Festival Chhath Parv and Chhath Puja 2016

Chhath is a Hindu festival which is celebrated by Purvanchal people with great zeal every year. It’s very ancient festival of Hindus dedicated to the God of energy, also known by the name of Dala Chhath or Surya Shashti. People celebrate this festival to offer thanks to God Surya for blessings to give birth on this earth. People observe the fast and worship the Lord Surya very enthusiastically and get the blessings for the well-being, success and progress of their family members, friends and elders. According to Hindu religion, Sun worship is related to the treatment of particular range of diseases like leprosy, etc.

The rituals of this day is to wake up early in the morning, take a holy bath in the Ganga and observe the fast for whole day without drinking water and they keep themselves standing into the water for a long time. They offer Prasad and Aragh to the rising sun. This festival is celebrated in many Indian states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. As per Hindu calendar, it is observed at 6th day of the month of Kartika (October - November).

In few places, Chaiti Chhath is also celebrated in Chaitra month that is March – April some days after Holi festival. It is called by similar name like Chhath because it is also celebrated on 6th day of the month of Kartika. Chhath Puja is popularly celebrated in the Dehri-On-Sone, Patna, Dev and Gaya. But nowadays it is observed across the country.

Important Dates of Chhath Puja 2016

Friday, 4th of November 2016 is the day of bath and eat.

Saturday, 5th of November 2016 is the day of fast which ends after sunset after the 36 hour long fast.

Sunday, 6th of November 2016 is the day of Sandhya Argh known as the evening offerings.

Monday, 7th of November 2016 is the day of Suryodaya Argh and the Paran or breaking of the fast.

Chhath Puja History & Origin

Chhath Puja has a great importance in Hinduism. It assumed that in ancient time, Purohits were requested by the kings to come and perform the traditional worship of Lord Sun. They chant the Rigveda texts and different type of hymns for worshipping the Sun. Anciently, Chhath Puja was celebrated by Draupadi and Pandvas of Hastinapur(New Delhi) for solving their instant problems and get back their lost kingdom.

There is another assumption that the Chhath Puja was performed by the Surya Putra Karna. He was a great warrior and had ruled over the Anga Desh (Munger district of Bihar) during Mahabharta period. 

One other history about Chhath Puja is the story of Lorda Rama. It is assumed that Lord Rama and Mata Sita had kept fast and offer Puja to the Lord Sun in the month of Kartik in Shukla Paksha after returning to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. From that time, Chhath Puja became the significant and traditional festival in the Hindu religion and started celebrating every year at the same date. 

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