CHHATH PUJA
Know Sanatan Dharma and know Bharat....
Chhath Puja is a festival devoted to Bhagwan Surya and his wives Usha, who is also known as Chhathi Maiya and Pratyusha (Sandhya) During Chhath Puja, people thank Bhagwan Surya, the god of vibrant energy and life-force for sustaining the our life on Earth. It is celebrated during the month of Kartik (October-November) after 6 days of Deepawali — mainly in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Mauritius, Fiji, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname,Jamaica, United States, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Macau, Japan, and Indonesia and other places by Bihari aboriginal migrant and settlers.
It’s the only festival that is dedicated to Bhagwan Surya, who is supposed to be the source of all powers and energy. The God of new hope as light, life force and energy is worshipped in order to promote well-being, development and the prosperity of human beings and nature. The devotees express their respect and gratitude towards Bhagwan Surya and his wives by worshipping and performing important rituals over a for a span of four days. People who observe the fast during this festival are called Vrati- on fast. It is rigorous and strict manners which teaches the importance of discipline . During the fasting period the devotees (those who practice) remain separate from the main family for maintaining chastity as well as purity. The prasadam is cooked without salt, onions or garlic or other 'tamsic' ingredients.
How is it celebrated...
The people wear clean or new clothes. They do not drink alcohol or smoke and abstain themselves from drugs as it is sinful to use during puja days. The positive energy gains from the Chhath Puja brings purity of soul and reverence towards the nature, brings prosperity and good health, wealth and moksha to the family and dearers.
The 4-day rituals of Chhath Puja include taking holy morning and evening baths in the river, ponds, lakes or other water bodies, fasting, and offering Prasad and 'Arghya' to the Surya during Usha kaal- Sunrise and Pratusha kaal-Sunset while offering and recititing vedic prayers and Rig Veda's mantras, performing sacred religious rituals. The sages used to perform the puja by exposing themselves to direct chilly winter winds and surviving through natural sunlight, gaining strength from Sun rays and avoid eating or consuming any eatables for life.
*History of Festival*..
Chhath puja is one of ancient festival, part of our vedic life as well as in later yuga and mentioned in both Treta Yuga-Ramayana and Dwapar Yuga-Mahabharata. In Ramayana, Sita performed Surya Shashthi or Chhath Puja after Ramrajya was established. In Mahabharata, the puja was performed by Kunti after Pandavas were escaped from Lakshagrih fire conspiracy. During exile, Draupadi and the Pandavas celebrated Chhath in order to solve their issues and gain their lost respect and kingdom again.
According to another legend, Chhath Puja was first performed by Karna, who is considered to be an offspring of Lord Surya and Kunti. He ruled over the Anga Pradesh which is now the modern-day Bhagalpur area in Bihar.
*Importance*..
Chhath Puja is completed in 4 stages of purity of soul, mind and body to understand 'Atman'. First- detoxification of Body by bearing hunger and second winter harsh weather by remaining in the water at riverside during araghya and third meditating on Sun to awaken kundalini so that cosmic solar energy may penetrate in the body and reach to soul to make you an infinite island of cosmic purity and fourth and final connecting you to Param Braham - Sat Chit Anand.
*Science behind Sanatan Dharma Festival*...
Chhath Puja also has roots in science as it helps the human body get rid of seasonal sickness, negative bacterias and virus. The water works as connector to make Sun enrgy to go through your whole body and passes positive enrgy in your whole system. #Arunaksarun
Best wishes to all on Chhath Puja festival...
-Arun Rise Sharma
