Chhath

Chhath Puja
People gathered at a pond in Janakpur of Mithila in the Madhesh Province of Nepal to worship the god Sun and his sister Chhathi Maiya (2008)
Devotes gathered together at a pond in Janakpurdham, Madhesh Province, Nepal to worship Surya, the sun god and his sister Chhathi Maiya
Also called
  • Chhaith
  • Chhath Parva
  • Chhath Puja
  • Dala Chhath
  • Dala Puja
  • Surya Shashthi
Observed byIndians and Nepalese
TypeCultural, historical, religious
SignificanceTo venerate Surya, the sun god and his sister Chhathi Maiya
DateKartik Shukla Shashthi
2023 date
  • 25 March to 28 March (Chaiti)[1]
  • 17 Nov to 20 Nov (Katiki)
2024 dateThursday 7, November
FrequencyAnnual

Chhath is an ancient Hindu festival, native to eastern India and southern Nepal.[2] It is celebrated[3] especially in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Eastern Uttar Pradesh;[4][5] and the Nepalese Autonomous provinces of Koshi, Lumbini, and Madhesh.[6][7][8][9] In major Indian and Nepalese urban centres like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kathmandu, etc., the diaspora actively participates in celebrating Chhath, preserving their cultural heritage.[10][11][12][13] The festival is also celebrated in countries like the USA, Australia, Singapore, UAE, Canada, Mauritius, Japan, UK, etc., by the diaspora.[14][15]

During Chhath Puja, prayers are dedicated to the solar deity, Surya: to show gratitude for bestowing the bounties of life on Earth and to request that certain wishes be granted.[16]

Chhathi Maiya (or Chhathi Mata), the sixth form of Prakriti and Surya's sister, is worshipped during the festival. It is celebrated six days after Deepavali, or Tihar, on the sixth day of the lunar month of Kartika (October or November) in the Hindu calendar (Vikram Samvat), and hence why it is called Surya Shashti Vrata.[17][18][19] The rituals are observed over three nights and four days.[20] They include holy bathing, fasting, and abstaining from drinking water (as a vrata), standing in water, and offering prasada (prayer offerings) and arghya to the rising and setting of the Sun.[21] Some devotees also perform a prostration march as they head towards the riverbanks.[22] All devotees prepare similar prasada (religious food) and offerings.[23][24]

Chhath Puja at Inaruwa, Sunsari District,Koshi Province
Chhath Puja at Chaudhary Pokhair in Basuki Bihari town of Bihar

Environmentalists have claimed that the festival of Chhath is one of the most eco-friendly religious festivals.[25][26] Although the festival is observed most widely in Nepal and some Indian states, it is also prevalent in areas where the diaspora and migration from those areas have a presence.

  1. ^ admin; [email protected] (8 March 2022). "कार्तिक छठ पूजा 2023 कब हैं | चैती छठ पूजा 2023 कब हैं". BTN Live Cities. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  2. ^ Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.
  3. ^ "Surat 1 lakh to celebrate chhath puja". Jai Bihar. 22 October 2009. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  4. ^ "20K perform Chhath Puja". Hindustan Times. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  5. ^ Publications, Adda247. Ace Banking And Static Awareness eBook (English ed.). Adda247 Publications. ISBN 978-93-89924-52-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Preparations underway for Chhath". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  7. ^ Sharma, Dr Pradeep Kumar. Ghraundha 3: A complete children book (in Hindi). Naye Pallav. ISBN 978-81-935124-6-3.
  8. ^ Staff, India com Lifestyle. "Chhath Puja 2021 Day 1: Nahay Khay Significance, Importance, All You Need to Know About This Ritual". www.india.com. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  9. ^ Magazine, New Spolight. "Chhath Puja 2021: History, Importance, And Significance of Chhath Puja In Nepal And India". SpotlightNepal. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Vibrant celebrations of Chhath in Kathmandu Valley". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  11. ^ Today, Telangana (17 November 2023). "Hyderabad gears up for Chhath Puja festivities". Telangana Today. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  12. ^ Excelsior, Daily (7 November 2024). "Lakhs of devotees offer 'Sandhya Arghya' as Delhi celebrates Chhath Puja". Daily Excelsior. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Chhath Puja 2022, Mumbai: मुंबई में 81 जगह पर मनायी जाएगी छठ पूजा, सुरक्षा के खास इंतजाम - Chhath Puja will be celebrated at 81 places in Mumbai special security arrangements". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Chhath Puja goes global, Indian diaspora in London, Dubai and the US soaks in festivities". The Times of India. 21 November 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  15. ^ "How Chhath Puja Is Celebrated Across The World: Traditions In The US, UK, Singapore & More". Outlook India. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  16. ^ "A festival not confined to Bihar". The Times of India. 25 October 2017. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  17. ^ "Chhath Puja 2016: History, Significance, Dates and Benefits of Chhath Puja, Surya Sashthi". The Indian Express. 4 November 2016. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016.
  18. ^ Das, Subhamoy (3 October 2018). "Chhath Puja". Learn Religions. Dotdash. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  19. ^ "Festivals of India And Nepal - Chhath Festival". aryabhatt.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  20. ^ Richa (6 November 2016). "Chhath at the crossroads". The Telegraph India. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Chhath rituals bring family together". The Times of India. 24 October 2017. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  22. ^ Sah, Jitendra (8 November 2016). "Sun worshippers". The Kathmandu Post. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016. Some devotees go to river banks to worship the sun by prostrating themselves the entire distance.
  23. ^ मानपुरी, सुरेन्द्र (10 November 2018). "Chhath Puja: भिखारी सारी दुनिया दाता एक राम... छठ पर्व में आम और खास सब एक समान". Hindustan. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  24. ^ Jha, Jivesh (31 December 2019). "Chhath Puja: The festival of Sun God, cleanliness, equality and fraternity". Lokantar. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  25. ^ Tripathi, Piyush (6 November 2016). "Chhath the most eco-friendly festival: Environmentalists". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  26. ^ Tripathi, Piyush Kumar (28 October 2014). "Ode to god of green things". The Telegraph India. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2021.