Chhath Puja 2017: Acknowledge The Source Of Energy!

The dates for the holy Chhath Puja in 2017 are given here. Surya Puja is the main event of Chhath. It is the day to pay reverence to the Lord who is sustaining our earthly lives, the Sun. Let’s now discover what was unknown to us about Chhath Puja.

Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun God, who is the prime source of life. This Chhat Puja, find out the ways to invoke the blessings of Lord Surya. Read on to know more about Chhath Puja celebrations & it’s importance.

What is Chhath Puja?

Chhath Puja is a four-day festival. Chhat Puja is dedicated to Lord Surya, Lord Kartikeya and Chhathi Maiyya.

Chhat Parva is celebrated in the Kartik month of Hindu Calendar. Chhath means the sixth day of the Hindu month (Kartika). Chhat Puja is also known as Surya Shashti, Dala Puja, Chhathi, Dala Chhath, Chhathi, and Chhath Parva, to name a few.

Chhath Puja is celebrated twice in a year. First, it is celebrated after Holi in Chaitra (March or April) month of the Hindu calendar and is known as Chhathi. The second is known as Kartik Chhath, as it falls in the Kartik month.

Chhat Puja is the only festival in the Hindu religion, which clearly signifies the cycle of birth and death. This is depicted in the form of the rising and setting Sun (as the rising Sun signifies new life, and the setting Sun depicts death). The devotees offer their prayers to Surya on the festival of Chhath. People pray for the well-being, happiness, and prosperity of their family members as well as loved ones. Sun, the supreme power, is worshiped with a lot of enthusiasm and devotion. It is strongly believed that worshiping the Sun cures a lot of diseases.

Before knowing more about Chhath Puja, let’s find out when Chhath Puja will be celebrated in 2017.

Chhath Puja 2017 Dates

The Chhath Puja is a four-day event. Chhat Puja in 2017 will be celebrated on the following dates:

These 4 days of Chhath Puja are considered to be extremely auspicious and important for the devotees. Now that you know what Chhat Puja is, let’s find out, what is the history behind the celebration of Chhath Puja.

Legends Of Chhath Puja

It is believed that Chhat Puja got its origin from the Hindu religion. It was during the ancient times, when the great Hindu Kings invited the oldest Brahmin of the region to perform a traditional Puja (worship). In this Puja, special hymns and Mantras from the Rigveda were chanted. The Purohits (priests) worshiped the Sun God during this Puja. Post this event, every year the tradition of worshiping the Sun during this time came into being. Thus, Chhat Puja is celebrated each year by devoting oneself at the feet of Surya.

But, there are more stories that led to the celebration of Chhath Puja. Let’s know what are they.

Chhath Puja: Mahabharata

The greatest Hindu epic, Mahabharata signifies the celebration of Chhat Puja. It is believed that Draupadi (wife of Pandavas) observed a fast and prayed to Sun God during the time of Chhath. Post that, Draupadi was able to solve her immediate problems and also helped the Pandavas in regaining their lost kingdom.

Chhath Puja: Chhathi Maiya

Chhathi Maiya or the consort of Sun God is worshiped during the Chhath Puja. Chhathi Maiya is known as Usha. Usha in Vedas means the first light of the day (dawn). Hence, people pray to Chhathi Maiya during Chhat Puja in order to attain salvation. It is believed that by worshiping Chhathi Maiya, a person is able to overcome all his troubles. Another legend associated to Chhat Puja is about Karna (the son of Surya). It is believed that the ruler of Anga Desh, Karna was responsible to begin the tradition of Chhath Puja.

Chhath Puja Days: Rituals & Importance

Chhat Puja is a four-day event in which some special rituals are performed each day. Chhath Puja has to be followed year on year, if a family begins it. The Chhat Puja can only be skipped, if somebody passes away in the family during that year.

This Chhat Puja don’t forget to follow the following rituals.

1. The first day of Chhath Puja is known as Nahay Khay, which means ‘bath and eat’. On this day, devotees take a holy dip (in river Ganga) and follow the path of abstinence from the worldly desires. On this day, people who observe the Chhat Vrat (fast), consume only one meal throughout the day and is known as ‘Kaddu Bhat’. This meal is cooked only in bronze or soil utensils.
   
2. The second day of Chhath Puja is given the name Lohanda/Kharna/Barauna. During the time of Chhat Puja, devotees offer their prayers and Prasadam (sacred food offering) to the Lord Sun. On this day, females observe a Vrat (fast) throughout the day. The Vrat gets over in the evening by having Kheer (sweet rice porridge), Puris (deep fried item made up of wheat) and fruits. Then, the same food is distributed to family and friends. People who observe the Chhat are known as Parvaitin. Parvatins go for a 36 hours long fast post having the Prasad (Kheer). During this Vrat, some of the Parvaitins do not even consume water.
   
3. On the third day of Chhath Puja, the entire day of Chhath Puja goes in preparing delicacies. The Parvatin offer their prayers to Lord Surya. The complete Chhat Puja is offered near to a water body (pond, river or sea). This offering to the Sun is done during evening. Hence, it is also known as Sandhya Argh (evening prayer). Chhath songs are sung while the rituals are being performed.
   
4. On the last day of the Chhath Puja, Parvaitin goes to the same water body before the sunrise. They give an Arghya (offering) to the rising Sun (Suryodaya Arghya). The festival of Chhat ends with the breaking of the fast (Paran) by the Parvaitin. Lamps of clay are lit under the covering of 5 sugarcane sticks. These 5 sticks are synonyms to 5 Pancha Bhutas (earth, water, fire, air and ether) of human body.

Benefits Of Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja a festival occurring twice in a year and has a lot of benefits for the observer. Chhat Puja is beneficial from the religious point of view. In addition to that, observing the Chhath Vrat and performing the Chhat rituals purifies one’s body too. Find out how:

1. The energy of the Sun heals and cures many diseases and brings positivity.
2. The rays of Sun improve the performance of blood and count of white blood cells (WBCs).
3. The Sun provides an internal power and blesses the devotees with strength and courage.

Chhath is celebrated in the various states of India like Bihar, UP, Jharkhand, and Nepal. During Chhat Puja, Chhath Songs are the special attractions. The tradition is to sing the Chhat Puja songs during the four-day Chhat Puja celebration.

The Chhat Puja songs are basically sung and written in Bhojpuri language, as Chhath is an extremely important festival of Bihar. The Chhath songs are mostly traditional folk songs. This is a way of expressing one’s joy, love and delight toward the festival.

Sun is the source of life and energy for most of the living beings. Sun’s influence can also be seen on an individual’s horoscope (Kundali). That is the reason why worship of Sun has been given a lot of emphasis in the Hindu mythology. Devotees throughout the country worship the Sun God with full sanctity, fondness and spirituality on Chhath Puja.

We hope that this article on Chhath Puja will help you to imbibe the positivity of Sun through the celebration of Chhath Puja.

AstroCAMP wishes all its readers a very Happy Chhath Puja..!