Monday, November 19, 2012

The Significance of Chhath Puja

 

Chhath also known as Dala Chhath is an important festival celebrated in Bihar and many other parts of India in which the setting of the sun (dawn) is worshipped. This festival is also celebrated in neighbouring areas such as Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Trai areas of Nepal with a little difference.

Chhath Puja is observed during the 6thday (sashthi) lunar fortnight of the Karthik month. (Karthik month occurs from last October to mid November). This festival is celebrated to thank the Sun God for offering energy to earth, continuously enabling the environment suitable for the people to live.

Devotees assemble at rivers and ponds including Ganges and take a holy dip before preparing the offerings (Prasad). The main constituent of the offerings are Thekua, which is a wheat based cake. Offerings are preferably cooked on earthen Chulha (oven). Some traditions are exercised with little difference varying from region to region and across the families with basic similarity.

During the puja, offerings are put in small, semicircular pans woven out of bamboo strips called soop. Chhath is a Hindu festival but many muslim families also participate in this holy festival.
                        

 
So lets celebrate the festival of Chhath together and offer prayers to the sun. 
 

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