Travel
Sites
Visit
Goa, Karnataka,
Kerala,
Tamil
Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh
in South India,
Delhi,
Rajasthan,
Uttar
Pradesh, Himachal
Pradesh in North India, Assam,
Bengal,
Sikkim
in East India
|
|
|
|
Go
to :
Index
File
Chhaath Puja festival begins in Bihar
by Ajay
Kumar
Patna:
Chhaath, the thanksgiving festival dedicated to
the Sun God for bestowing the bounties of life in
earth and fulfilling everyone's wishes, started here
today with Kharna ritual. The festival is significant
for married women in specific, as they observe a two-day
fast and offer prayers standing waist-deep in water
and offer fruits and flowers to Surya, the Sun God.
Several married women here today observed dawn to
dusk fast marking 'Kharna' for the long life of husband
and son and mark the fist day of the three-day Chhat
Puja. The occasion is celebrated specifically by people
of Bihar and also by those living in particular parts
of the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh State. Chhaath Puja
acts as a unifying force both socially and culturally.
In Patna, large number of devotees thronged market
to make last minute purchase for the Chhaath Puja
in Patna. Local residents here say that Chhaath Puja
holds great significance, as it is said to be Biharis'
main festival and thus celebrated with full gaiety.
"Chhat is our main festival. Today is Kharna, the
festival of 'Kheer' and 'Puri' (which signifies the
beginning of Chhaath puja). We have returned after
taking bath in the Ganga river. We have come to buy
fruits. The Puja holds great importance in our lives
and we celebrate it with great devotion," said Bimla
Sinha, one resident woman. "We buy banana, apple,
lemon, coconut and gorgan nut to mark the puja. Chaath
has a great importance in Bihar and it is being celebrated
as per the traditions," said Kamlawati, another woman.
People bathe at Ghats, the riverbanks, and pay obeisance
to both the rising and the setting sun during the
festival. It is celebrated on the sixth and seventh
days after Diwali, the festival of lights. Dancing
on the tunes of the devotional songs, people offer
fruits and flowers to please the Sun God.
-Nov 3,
2008
|
|
|
|