Chhath Puja 2022 Live Highlights: Festivities Across India As Devotees Perform Puja
Chhath is an auspicious festival in North India and Chhath Puja is mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, and parts of Uttar Pradesh.
From Kolkata, Lucknow, Delhi to Amritsar to Bihar, the Chhatt Puja festivities acorss the country were performed with great fervour. From applying vermillion to performing Puja on the ghats of various rivers, Chhatt Puja 2022 has been a grand festival.
The Sun is revered in Hinduism as a healer of many severe health conditions, as well as a source of longevity, prosperity, progress, and well-being. The festival is celebrated by the people by following a strict four-day routine. Fasting, including abstinence from drinking water; holy bathing, offering prayers to the rising and setting suns, and meditating by standing in water for long periods of time are among the rituals.
The rituals of Chhath Puja are mentioned in the epic Mahabharata, where Draupadi, the Pandavas' wife, is depicted as performing similar religious observances. According to popular legend, the Pandavas and Draupadi performed the Chhath ritual on the advice of the noble sage Dhaumya in order to reclaim their lost kingdom of Indraprastha (now Delhi).
The festival also has an interesting history: the sages used to abstain from food and channel the Sun's energy toward themselves in order to survive. Another mythological story has Rama and Sita praying to the Sun god after returning to Ayodhya after a 14-year exile (vanvasa).
The Surya Sashthi fast is characterised by strict fasting and abstinence from water in honour of the Sun god. This fast aids in gaining focus, prosperity, happiness, and physical and mental well-being.
The third day of Chhath Puja, also known as Sandhya Arghya, is the day when devotees observe a fast without drinking any water. Devotees pray and make an offering (Arghya) to the setting Sun on this day. This day's fasting involves abstaining from all liquids and water for the entire night.
Sunrise: 05:56 AM
Sunset: 05:10 PM
On the occasion of Chhath Puja, which falls on Sunday, October 30, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi has announced a ‘dry day’ in the nation's capital.
BJP member Manoj Tiwari also shared the announcement on his Twitter account. Check out his tweet:
President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday said Chhath Puja is a unique example of mutual harmony between human beings and nature, and greeted citizens on the eve of the festival.
Chhath Puja is an occasion when we express our reverence, affection and gratitude towards Mother Nature, the president said in a statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Pankaj Tripathi opened up about participating in the Chhath Puja festivities back home as a child. In an interaction, Pankaj Tripathi told Hindustan Times, “During the puja, we worship the Sun. The significance is that we need water and sunlight to survive, so essentially, we worship Nature, thanking it for all that it gives us (humans). It teaches us that we should respect and preserve nature, be responsible towards the environment and teach our kids the same.”
"I remember, everyone in the village would share the crops they had grown, from banana to grains etc., with their neighbours. There was always a rush to go home for Chhath Puja and there would be crowded buses and trains. Back then, we would wait for new clothes and festivities. I’d help in cleaning the house and preparing for the puja. I’d also visit the tailor to remind him to keep our clothes ready as growing up, we’d get clothes stitched. Kyonki readymade ka chalan nahin tha.”
The 'Gangs Of Wasseypur' actor also admitted that the Chhath Puja festivities also helped him grow as an actor. He admitted in the same report, "Growing up, I’d participate in plays in my hometown during the two days after the festival. Those were such wonderful times and I have some lovely memories."
SMS for Chhath
May this Chhath Puja bring
Blessings and happiness your way
May all your dreams come true
And all evils shed away.
Happy Chhath Puja.
May this Chhath, light up for you.
The hopes of Happy times,
And dreams for a year full of smiles!
Wish you Happy Chhath.
Long live the tradition of Hindu culture,
as the generations have passed by,
Hindu culture is getting stronger and stronger.
Best Wishes for Chhath.
On this auspicious occasion,
I wish the colour,
bliss and beauty Of this festival Be with you throughout the year!
Happy Chhath!
Is shubh divas par
hum dharm ki adharm par vijay ki,
khushiya manaye!
Wishing you a happy Chat Puja
chhat maiya ki jai maa sabhe ke wish pura karae.
May this Chhath Puja bring
Blessings and happiness your way
May all your dreams come true
And all evils shed away.
Happy Chhath Puja.
The Revenue Minister of Delhi, Kailash Gahlot, travels to a number of the city's ghats in advance of Chhath Puja and monitors the preparations. Tents, tables, seats, lighting, sound system, CCTV, power backup, etc. are being set up by the department at all Chhath puja locations.
Taking a bath after eating is referred to as Nahay Khay. As prasad, the fasting person consumes rice, channa dal, and pumpkin (Lauki or Gheya) made of raw rice after bathing in a river or pond.
This food is revered for its holiness and purity. One salty meal is consumed on this day. Bathing is associated with purity. Devotees follow the Chhath fast by becoming satvik and pure.
On this day, a special recipe known as Lauki is prepared and offered to Surya bhagwan, making Khay Chhath Nahay Puja also known as Lauki Bhat. Nahay Khay or Lauki Bhat is the first day of the four-day Chhat pooja.
Today marks the second day of Kharna or Lohanda. Here are sunrise and sunset timing:
Sunrise: 6:31 AM
Sunset: 5:38 PM
Day two, Saturday, is called Kharna. Foods like Gur ki Kheer, Kaddu-Bhaat, Thekua and Gujiya are prepared and eaten during the Vrat fast that devotees follow for around 8 to 12 hours on this day. Following the end of the fast, these meals are shared between loved ones.
In addition, folks buy new outfits and gather with loved ones to celebrate the happy event.
Background
New Delhi: The Chhath Puja festival is celebrated over a period of four days. It falls after Diwali and is celebrated on the sixth day of Kartik month. The festival is dedicated to Surya Bhagavan (Lord Surya) and is also popular in Nepal where followers worship Lord Surya for the well-being, development, and prosperity of their family members.
At the start of the Chhath festival, devotees gathered at the banks of rivers to take the early morning bath. In Delhi, people reached the Yamuna river in Kalindi Kunj to take a dip.
Chhath is an auspicious festival in North India and Chhath Puja is mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, and parts of Uttar Pradesh. The Chhath Puja festival which is celebrated on the sixth day of Kartik month commences with Nahay Khay.
During this festival, women observe a 36-hour fast without water. The women worship Goddess Chhathi with enthusiasm. There are many beliefs related to the festival of Chhath Puja. Women pray for a good harvest, family health, and prosperity, and for the long life of children.
According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Chhathi is considered to be Lord Brahma’s Manasputri and Lord Surya’s sister. Goddess Chhathi is considered to bless fertility in women.
Interestingly, this four-day festival does not involve idolatry. Devotees believe that the main sources of the sun’s powers are his wives, Usha and Pratyusha. Hence, Chhath involves combined worship of both powers along with the Sun.
The importance and prominence of the festival in Hinduism is such that it is mentioned in the 'Ramayana' and 'Mahabharata' as well.
How is the Chhath Puja celebrated?
Nahay Khay
The four-day-long festival commences with Nahya Khay. The women who observe a fast on this day, consume chana (chickpea), rice, and saag.
Kharna
The second day of Chhath puja is Kharna. On this day, women observe a fast without water throughout the day. In the evening, Gud ki Kheer (Jaggery pudding) is prepared. The kheer is made on an earthen stove. After offering the argha to Lord Surya, the women consume the kheer.
Third-Day of Chhath Puja
The Third day of the Chhath Puja is special as the women go near a river or pond to worship Goddess Chhathi and after sunset offer argha to Lord Surya.
The Last Day Of Chhath Puja
On the fourth day, women go into the river or pond and offer argha to Lord Surya. After that, they circle around seven or 11 times. Later the fast is concluded by distributing prasad among each other.
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