Chhatth Puja 2017



Chhath Puja


Chhath Puja 2017 ( 24 - 27 October, 2017 )




Important Days of Chhath Puja Vrat 2017

Day 1 - Tuesday, October 24, 2017 - Naha Kha
Day 2 - Wednesday, October 25, 2017 - Kharna/Lohanda
Day 3 - Thursday, October 26, 2017 - Sandhya Arghya
Day 4 - Friday, October 27, 2017- Suryodaya Arghya
Day 4 - Friday, October 27, 2017- Paaran



Sunrise on Chhath Puja Day = 06:29
Sunset on Chhath Puja Day = 17:41

This festival is celebrated in various parts of India like West Bengal, Orissa, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar by the Hindus of Bihar and Jharkhand. The Hindu festival of Chhath is unique to that region. Chhatt is dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and therefore, is also known as Surya Shashti. 


Naming:

 Chhath : 

The word Chhatt denotes the number six and thus the festival begins on the sixth day of the Hindu month of Kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar, which falls in late October and November.


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Surya Shashti :

Chhath is the only Vedic Festival dedicated to the Hindu Sun God, Surya, also known as Surya Shashti as it begins on the sixth day of the Hindu month of Kartik.

The Chhath Puja is performed in order to thank Surya for sustaining life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes. The Sun, considered the god of energy and of the life-force, is worshiped during the Chhath fesival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. In Hinduism, Sun worship is believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and helps ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders.
Chhath is the only festival which celebrates the setting sun unlike any other festival. The setting sun is celebrated for its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death.



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The Places Of Activity:

The sun temples in Aurangabad and Baragaon near Nalanda, actively celebrate Chhatth. During the festival time it is very crowded. All the devotees go to the banks of the river to offer their prayers to the Sun god.
Although Chhath puja is celebrated in many parts of India, it is in Bihar that it is considered a very important occasion.
Over the years people from both Bihar and Jharkhand have moved to other states and even to other countries for education or career. With them they have taken along the festival of Chhatt so it is now celebrated in many other places.

This festival is celebrated in various parts of India like West Bengal, Orissa, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Although it is observed most elaborately in Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern UP and the Terai regions of Nepal in modern times, and is more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a presence, it is celebrated in all regions and major urban centers in India. The festival is celebrated in the regions including but not exclusive to the northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat,  Delhi, Mumbai  and Mauritius.

Biharis celebrate this festival on the sixth day of the lunar month after Diwali each year. The rituals on this festival include fasting and chanting prayers on the banks of the River Ganga, Yamuna or river. 

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Rituals and Traditions of Chhath Puja -- the four-day festival


Day 1:


Naha Kha
(sacred bath and food)


The devotees clean their homes thoroughly. They bathe in the holy Ganga or Yamuna River (it may be any other fresh water body) at sunrise. Then the devotee is supposed to bring the holy water home to prepare ‘Prasad’ or offering. During these four days, the worshipper gives up all luxuries and sleeps on the floor with a single blanket. 

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Day 2:

Kharna/Lohanda

(the day prior to Chhath)

Next morning devotees maintain a strict fast with no water and food, which ends after sunset, after performing the puja (worship ceremony) at home. They offer kheer (rice pudding) and fruit to God and then share it with family and friends.
The day is spent preparing the prasad (offerings) at home. In the evening the devotees go to a riverbank or pond where the prasad is offered to the setting sun. The devotees return home for another colorful celebration. Under a canopy of sugar cane sticks, they place clay elephants containing diyas (earthen lamps), and baskets filled with prasad. Agni(fire god)is worshipped.

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Day 3:


Sandhya Arghya

(evening offerings)

After eating at night the devotee is suppose to start another fast on the following morning that lasts for 36 hours i.e. till third day evening. During the sunset on the third day a huge puja is held on the river banks where millions of people stand in the river with offerings that include flowers and small diyas (earthen lamps). They break their fast during this time. The sight of thousand hands offering ‘arghya’ (river water) to sun makes up for a delightful scene. After sunset, the devotees return to their homes or temples where the celebration continues by singing hymns.

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Day 4:


Suryodaya Arghya and Paaran

(next morning offerings)

  On the morning of the final day, devotees with  family and friends visit the banks of River Ganga before sunrise and welcome the sun with folded hands. Sandalwood, rice, sugarcane and various fruits covered usually with saffron coloured cloth are offered to the rising Sun God. Devotees offer arghya and chant mantras from the Rig Veda and distribute the Prasad amongst family and friends. 

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The Festivities And The Rituals:

* Chhatth is a very joyous and colorful festival. All the people dress up in their best clothes. Devotional folk songs are sung both at home and on the riverbank. 

* Millions of people gather at the banks of river Ganges in Patna (Capital of Bihar) to celebrate Chhatth. The streets are kept spotlessly clean by volunteers, who also decorate all the streets leading to the river.

* The prasad includes sweets and fruit kept in small baskets made of bamboo.

* The food is strictly vegetarian and it is cooked without salt, onions or garlic. Emphasis on put on maintaining the purity of the food.

* Once a family start performing Chhatt Puja, it is continued annually by the following generations. If unable to perform the puja themselves for personal reasons, it is recommended that one should assist some one else who is performing the puja by providing funds or the prasad instead of completely missing the puja.

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  Legends :

(1)

It is believed that the Maga Purohits (modern days known as Shakya Dwipi Brahmins) were invited by local kings for their expertise in Sun worshiping. They started the tradition of Chhat Puja. Today Chhat Puja is celebrated specially in those places where Shakya Dwipi Brahmins are found.

(2)

It is believed that the ritual of Chhath puja may even predate the ancient Vedas texts, as the Rigveda contains hymns worshiping the Sun god and describes similar rituals. The rituals also find reference in the Sanskrit epic poem Mahabharata in which Draupadi is depicted as observing similar rites.

(3)

In the epic 'Mahabharata', Draupadi and the Pandavas, rulers of Hastinapur (modern Delhi), performed the Chhath ritual on the advice of noble sage Dhaumya. Through her worship of the Sun God, Draupadi was not only able to solve her immediate problems, but also helped the Pandavas later regain their lost kingdom.

(4)

It is also believed that Chhath was started by Karna, the son of Surya (Surya Putra Karna). Surya Putra Karna ruled over the Anga Desh (present day Bhagalpur district of Bihar) during the Mahabharat Age. He was a great warrior and fought against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War.

(5)

Its yogic/scientific history dates back to the Vedic times. The rishis of yore used this method to remain without any external intake of food as they were able to obtain energy directly from the sun's rays. This was done through the Chhath method.

 

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Beautiful folk-songs for Chhatth

There are beautiful folk songs sung for Chhatth. It is a shame that most of them are passed down in families but are not recorded for others to hear and enjoy.

Recently a few well known singers have tried to recreate the folk songs. A few examples can be found in the section 'Chhatt Geet'. 

People fast on this day to please 'Chhatth Mata' and sing songs in her prayer. Women stand near rivers or ponds early in the morning, singing these songs and waiting for the sun to rise. The prayers are addressed to 'Chhati Mata' and the Sun God. Mostly the prayer in these songs is a wish for a son or the longevity of the son.

Chhatth songs are also sung on the sixth day after a baby boy's birth - as part of the 'Chhatti puja' ceremony. 

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छठ पूजा व्रत 2017 के महत्त्वपूर्ण दिवस-



मंगलवार - 24/ अक्तूबर/ 2017 ------- नहा खा                
बुधवार -  25/ अक्तूबर/ 2017 ------ खरना / लोहंडा      
बृहस्पतिवार​ - 26/ अक्तूबर / 2017–---- सांझ अर्घ्य  (शाम)
शुक्रवार​ -  27/ अक्तूबर / 2017 –--- सूर्योदय अर्घ्य (सुबह)
शुक्रवार-  27/ अक्तूबर  / 2017 ------ पारण
      






छठ पर्व या छठ कार्तिक शुक्ल की षष्ठी को मनाया जाने वाला एक हिन्दू पर्व है। यह पर्वसूर्यषष्ठीके नाम से भी जाना जाता है


सूर्योपासना का यह लोकपर्व मुख्य रूप से पूर्वी भारत के बिहारझारखण्ड, पूर्वी उत्तर प्रदेश और नेपाल के तराई क्षेत्रों में मनाया जाता है।

छठ पर्व को सूर्य षष्ठी का व्रत करने का विधान है । इसे करने वाली स्त्रियाँ धन-धान्य, पति-पुत्र तथा सुख-समृद्धि से परिपूर्ण रहती हैं। यह व्रत बड़े नियम तथा निष्ठा से किया जाता है। इसमे तीन दिन के कठोर उपवास का विधान है । इस व्रत को करने वाली स्त्रियों को पंचमी को एक बार नमक रहित भोजन करना पडता है। षष्ठी को निर्जल रहकर व्रत करना पडता है । षष्ठी को अस्त होते हुए सूर्य को विधिपूर्वक पूजा करके अर्घ्य देते हैं। सप्तमी के दिन प्रात:काल नदी या तालाब पर जाकर स्नान करती हैं। सूर्योदय होते ही अर्घ्य देकर जल ग्रहण करके व्रत को खोलती हैं।

सूर्य-षष्ठी-व्रत के अवसरपर सायंकालीन प्रथम अर्घ्यसे पूर्व मिट्टीकी प्रतिमा बनाकर षष्ठीदेवीका आवाहन एवं पूजन करते हैं। पुनः प्रातः अर्घ्यके पूर्व षष्ठीदेवीका पूजन कर विसर्जन कर देते हैं। मान्यता है कि पंचमीके सायंकालसे ही घरमें भगवती षष्ठीका आगमन हो जाता है। इस प्रकार भगवान्‌ सूर्यके इस पावन व्रतमें शक्ति और ब्रह्म दोनोंकी उपासनाका फल एक साथ प्राप्त होता है । इसीलिये लोक में यह पर्वसूर्यषष्ठीके नामसे विख्यात है।

सूर्य-षष्ठी-व्रतके प्रसादमें ऋतु-फलके अतिरिक्त आटे और गु से शुद्ध घी में बने ठेकुआका होना अनिवार्य है; ठेकुआपर लकडीके साँचे से सूर्यभगवान्‌के रथका चक्र भी अंकित करना आवश्यक माना जाता है। इस व्रत का प्रसाद माँग कर खानेका विधान है।

इस पर्व के संबंध में कई कहानियां प्रचलित हैं:--
 
(1)
एक कथा यह है कि लंका विजय के बाद जब भगवान राम अयोध्या लौटे तो दीपावली मनाई गई। जब राम का राज्याभिषेक हुआ, तो राम और सीता ने सूर्य षष्ठी के दिन तेजस्वी पुत्र की प्राप्ति के लिए सूर्य की उपासना की।

(2)

एक कथा यह भी है कि सूर्य षष्ठी को ही गायत्री माता का जन्म हुआ था। इसी दिन ऋषि विश्वामित्र के मुख से गायत्री मंत्र फूटा था। पुत्र की प्राप्ति के लिए गायत्री माता की भी उपासना की जाती है। 

(3)

एक कथा  यह भी है कि अपना राजपाट खो चुके जंगलों में भटकते पांडवों की दुर्दशा से व्यथित दौपद्री ने सूर्यदेव की आराधना की थी।


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