Chhath parva is celebrated by natives of Mithila region of Nepal and India. This festival is dedicated to god Sun. Sun is called Surya in Sanscrit, Chhat parba is thanks giving to lord Surya for sustaining life on earth and to worship him to provide his continuous blessings to mankind.
The Sun, source power of nature, considered the god of energy and lord of the life-force, is worshiped in Chhath to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. Hindu people believe sun helps to cure many illness and diseases. Sun is considered as source of healing too. Sun is also considered as token of stability and prosperity. Therefore, people worship sun to ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends and beloved ones.
Chhath parba is observed for 4 days from Kartik Shukala chaturthi to Kartik Shukala Saptami. This festival falls in October or November in the English Calendar.
Chhath is also celebrated in on Chaitra Shashti, the early summer about March or April, and is called Chaiti Chhath. The Kartik Sukla Shasti Chhat is more popular.
How do we celebrate Chhat Parba
Chhat festival is celebrated for four days. The ritual of Chhat Parba includes taking holy bath, fasting, standing and worshiping sun for a long time and offering Prasad and Argha to ‘Rising and setting Lord Surya”. Some worshipers observe fasting even without water for 36 hours continuously.
Days in Chhath Parva (total 4 days)
Day 1: Naha Kha
Naha Kha means bath and eat. This is the first day of Chhath Puja. People take a dip, preferably in the holy river near to their residence and bring home Holy water of the river to prepare the offerings. The house and surroundings are fully cleaned. The devotees eat only one meal on this day.
Day 2: Kharna/ Lohanda
This is a day before Chhat on Panchami day. This day people observe fasting ending in the evening after the sunset. Just after the worship of earth, the offerings of Kheer (rice pudding), Bananas and Puris are distributed. There is a tradition to observe fasting for next 36 hours even without water.
Day 3: Chhath
This is the 3rd day. It is on Kartik Shukala Shashti.This day Sanjhiya Arghya (evening offerings) is done. Whole day people prepare prasad at their home. In the evening whole family accompanies the devotee to a riverbank, lake or a common large water body to make the offerings (Aragh) to the setting sun. In Kathmandu, Rani Pokhari is opened for Argha that day. In Janakpur, Argha is offered in Ganga Sagar.
The devotees offer prayers to the setting sun. This is very important part of Chat Puja. In the evening people gather together and perform cultural programs with music and dances. The folk songs sung on the evening of Chhath reflect the culture, social structure, mythology and history of Mithila Pradesh and its vicinity. People sing songs in Maithili, Magadhi, and the Bhojpuri, the three main languages spoken in Terai and Madhesh region of Nepal. There are minor distinctions in celebration and pooja performance among the regions and across families, but basically all celebrate the same festival with same enthusiasm and charm.
Kosi: The third day night, Kosi is held after the sun set. The lights are lit late in the evening after making offering (Argha) to sun. The lamps are kept under a canopy of five sugarcane ticks. The five sticks signify the human body made of Pancha tatwa described by Ayurveda. (Earth, water, fire, air and ether or sky). This is a symbolic ritual in Chhath Puja, performed especially in those families where marriage or childbirth has taken place recently. The lighted lamps signify the solar energy sustaining the human being.
Day 4: Paran
Bihaniya Aragh is fourth and final day of Chhatt Pooja. Bihaniya Argha means Morning Offering. On Saptami, the final day of Chhath Puja, the devotees, along with their family and friends, go to the riverbank again before sunrise. They make the offerings (Aragh) to the rising sun. The festival ends with the breaking of the fast by the devotee of chhatt parba. Prasad is distributed and gatherings of family and friends ends the celebration.
Chhath pooja can be traced back to period of Mahabharat. Mahabharat has the reference of Chhat pooja. Draupadi, wife of the 5 Pandavas, has a great power to cure any type of disease including leprosy. The main reason of her power is her worship and devotion to Lord Sun (Surya Devata). Hindu believe sun has unlimited power to cure several diseases. The holy and divine energy of Surya made Draupati most powerful woman in the world to cure many diseases. As a commemoration of Draupadi and Lord Surya, Chhath Parva is celebrated worshiping Surya Devata.
Chhat Pooja and Karna
Chhat Pooja or Surya Sashti vrat is observed by Warrior Karna, the son of Surya, who was renowned warrior and well-known for his nature of charity. Since Karna became a popular and powerful by observing Surya Puja, Hindus also worship Surya devata for courage, fame, health, wealth and prosperity
