Chhath Puja is unique among our festivals and fasts. Since ancient times, people have enjoyed this celebration. Kunti and Draupadi reportedly fasted during the Mahabharata. Bihar, India, began this fast. This festival is well-attended. Chhath Puja is observed in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal from the fourth to seventh day of Kartik Shukla Paksha. Migration from these states to others has spread the Chhath celebration’s pleasant emotions across India. Travel to all these places by doing a car booking with a driver with Taxi Yatri.
This pooja is ongoing. It’s about preparing for this festival of togetherness. Fasting is vital for believers and devotees. All family members gather together during Chhath Puja preparations. Chhath Puja women fast. Men fast alongside women in great numbers. This fast ensures offspring, family longevity, and prosperity. Women carefully observe the 36-hour fast of the second night and third day-night. A lot of outstation cabs are offered at economical rates during this period for the devotees.
Historical/Vedic Views
This celebration, 6 days following Diwali, symbolizes Hindu faith and growth. This celebration has a long, legendary history. King Priyamvad reportedly had no children. He fasted for ‘Devi Shashthi’ (a Hindu folk deity who gives and protects children) to have a son, and he did.
After 14 years in exile, Lord Rama and Mother Sita returned to Ayodhya and worshiped Suryadev for family longevity and prosperity. The Mahabharata period also describes this worship. In the Mahabharata, Kunti fasted and had Karan as a son; Draupadi fasted and the Pandavas gained their empire. This worship has many historical testimonies.
Chhath Pooja Rituals
Chhath Pooja — Day One
On Kartik Shukla Chaturthi, ‘Nahai Khay’ begins Chhath Puja. After cleaning, fasting women take a holy bath on this day. After bathing, fasting women cook pure vegetarian cuisine, mainly pumpkin, mung, chana dal, rice, etc. This meal is cooked in a ‘Mitti Ka Chulha’ Women who fast eat it first, then others. Fasting men and women don’t utilize beds. They sleep on mats or straw on the ground.
Chhath Pooja — Day Two
On Kartik Shukla Panchami, the second day of Chhath Puja, devotees perform rituals known as ‘Kharna and Lohanda. People who observe a full-day fast on this day break their fast with rice, jaggery, and roti at dinner. Typically, kheer and roti are consumed after dark, while the diner is left to contemplate the night. The fasting individual must go without water for the following 36 hours after consuming this Prasad. Book a cab and travel to various places of religious importance of Chhath Pooja.
Chhath Pooja — Day Three
On Kartik Shukla Shashthi, the third day of Chhath Puja, people celebrate with a festival called Sandhya Arghya. The most significant event of Chhath Puja occurs on Sandhya Arghya. On the day of Shashthi, the thekua is cooked in pure desi ghee. There are also raw turmeric, ginger, bananas, lemons, radishes, coconuts, vermilion, sugarcane, hocks, fruits, etc., in addition to the aforementioned. The Prasads of Chhath Mata and Surya Dev. The males of the home carry the bamboo basket full of household necessities to the Ghat on their heads.
The women make their way to the Ghat while singing Chhath songs while they hold the basket. After finishing their evening rituals, the fasting folks head to the Ghat to give Arghya. A new Sari or Dhoti is worn by women and men alike who are fasting on this day. People who observe the fast travel to the Ghat in the early evening, bring all their religious objects with them, and kneel in the water till sunset. And make a sacrifice of Arghya to the sun deity as you go around the circumference five times.
Chhath Pooja — Day Four
Chhath Puja’s final day, Kartik Shukla Saptami, is known as Usha Arghya. All the worship supplies are collected on this day by the fasting folks. And present Arghya as an offering to the dawn. Following this, Prasad is given out to everyone at the Ghat. Individuals who are fasting break their fast at home by consuming prasad. The fasting period ends once this procedure is over.
Conclusion
Chhath Pooja is the most well-known and widely celebrated ancient festival in India, and it is devoted to the sun god Surya and the goddess Chhath Maiya. It is significant in its own right, even among the likes of Diwali, Holi, and Dussehra. Online cab booking is readily available, so getting to and from the festivities during these celebrations is a breeze. And take the kids to all their favorite spots.
