Chatt Puja is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival dedicated to Lord Sun and his consorts-Usha and Sandhya to thank them for bestowing the bounty of life on earth and to ask for the fulfillment of certain wishes. The goddess who is worshiped during the famous Chhath Puja is known as Chhathi Maiya. Chhathi Maiya is known as Usha in the Vedas. She is believed to be the beloved younger wife of Surya, the Sun God. She is also worshiped as the name “RANA MAI” in mithilanchal region.
This is native to the Indian subcontinent and is very widely celebrated in the eastern part of India. It is observed by Maithilis, Magahis, Bhojpuris and even Awadhis from India and Nepal.
Chatt means Six in Maithili, Magahi and Bhojpuri languages as the main festival occurs after 5 days of Deepavali i.e. sixth day hence the name Chatt. Chatt Puja begins on the fourth day of Deepavali and continues for the next four days. The rituals of the festival are strict and are observed for four days. They include a sacred bath, fasting and abstinence from drinking water (Vratta), standing in water for long periods, and offering prasad (prayer offerings) and arghya. to the setting and rising sun. Some devotees also perform obeisance as they head towards the banks of the river. (Generally, those devotees who take mannat for their work perform prostration after completing it.)
The festival begins with “Nahay Khaye” which means “to bathe and eat”. On this day, people observing the fast bathe in a river or pond and prepare lunch (consisting of rice, dal mixed with pumpkin/gourd, made with pure ghee). The second day (5th day from Diwali) is known as kharna or kheer-roti or kheer-puri. In which kheer (an Indian recipe where rice is prepared with sweetened milk instead of water) and chapati (called roti in many Indian provinces). People observe fast for the whole day without even taking water and eat this kheer-roti as dinner after offering it to the rising moon and goddess Ganga. This is the only time they eat or drink anything from the beginning of the day to the last day of the chhath. The third day is the main festival day (exactly 6th day from Diwali) chhath.
Devotees observe “nirjal vrat (gate)” (Fasting without taking a drop of water) on the third day. It mainly consists of going to the river bank and offering ‘argha’ (offering fruits and sweets in wine) and surya namaskar to the setting sun, followed by the next day (exactly 7th day of Diwali) the event of offering argha and surya namaskar to the rising sun on the fourth or last day of chhath. The fast then ends after offering argha to the rising sun. In this way, almost 42 hours of strict penance ends.
Why is it celebrated now?
There are many stories behind it.
It is believed that the Chhath puja ritual may date back to the ancient Vedic texts, as the Rigveda contains hymns worshiping the Sun god and describes similar rituals. The rituals also find a reference in the Sanskrit epic poem Mahābhārata, in which Draupadi is depicted as observing similar rituals.
In the poem, Draupadi and the Pandavas, the rulers of Indraprastha (modern Delhi), performed the Chhath ritual on the advice of the great sage Dhaumya. Through her worship of the Sun God, Draupadi was not only able to solve her immediate problems but also later helped the Pandavas regain their lost kingdom.
Another history behind the celebration of Chhath Puja is the story of Lord Rama. Lord Rama of Ayodhya and Sita of Mithila are believed to have held fast and offered pooja to Lord Sun in the month of Kartika in Shukla Paksh during their coronation after returning to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile.
During excavations at Govindpur village in Gaya district, these manuscripts were found where the year 137-138 AD is mentioned. The area where the Shakyadweep Bhramins settled, all these areas became the center of Sun worship. The ancient sun temples are:- Aungaari, Deva, Pandarak, Gaya etc. All these temples are only contributions of these Bhramins. Chatt is also an important festival of these sun worshiping Bhramins and all the common people celebrate this puja here.
Chatt Puja is an eco-friendly Hindu festival that does not involve any idol worship. It feels very similar to some festival of Assam & South where many festivals do not include Idol worship.
Chatt Puja is also celebrated during the summer season.
