Law Kumar Mishra | The TrickyScribe: Chhath Puja, one of the most revered festivals dedicated to the Sun God and to the nature, is set kickstart on Tuesday with rituals of Nahay Khay. The very next day Kharna rituals will follow.
This sacred observance, which spans several days, will conclude on Friday with the morning arghya, a traditional offering to the rising sun that marks the end of a rigorous 36-hour Nirjala (waterless) fast by the devotees.
Known as the purest and most stringent of religious rituals, Chhath is a celebration of faith, devotion, and resilience. I have missed this sacred festival for over three decades, due to work assignments in cities including Srinagar, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Bhubaneswar, Jaipur, Bhopal, and Raipur. Each year, I longed for the familiarity of Chhath, especially the sounds of the beloved folk song, “Marbo e sugwa, dhanukh se.”
Chhath is more than just a festival; it holds cultural significance and a message of gender equality. For centuries, the prayers during Chhath have included blessings for daughters, symbolized in the names Runki and Jhunki, celebrating the spirit of what we now recognize as the “Beti Bachao” (Save the Daughter) movement.
As a student, I frequently visited Bans Ghat in Patna during the Chhath festival. Early in the morning, I would offer prayers to the rising sun, and in the evening, I witnessed the devout offering to the setting sun. Chhath stands out as a festival celebrated without a priest, emphasizing a unique and deeply personal connection between the devotees and the Sun God.
Growing up by the Ganges during my college days, I experienced the Kartik month ritual of Kartik Snan (sacred bath), which gave me an intimate understanding of the river’s depth and power. I spent nine years as a student along the banks of the Ganga, where my college and postgraduate departments were located. Mornings would begin with a ritual bath in the river before classes, and the humble gamcha (cotton towel) became my constant companion.
For over three decades, I eagerly awaited the traditional offerings of thekua and kasar, which are given as Chhath prasads (holy offerings). Memories of past celebrations come alive, bringing back the nostalgia of a time when I joined the then-Governor Govind Narain Singh and then-Chief Minister Bhagwat Jha Azad in requesting state boats for an early morning passage across the Ganga during Chhath. Today, the river has shifted nearly three to five kilometers from Patna, a testament to the passage of time and changing landscapes.
As I celebrate Chhath this year, I pray for the blessings of Chhathi Maiya (Mother Goddess of Chhath) to grant me strength and grace. While I have undertaken several religious pilgrimages, including the rigorous Kailash Mansarovar trek, the Sabarimala pilgrimage, the Char Dham Yatra, and the Amarnath journey, Chhath Puja remains elusive. But with my heart set on it, I am determined to become a devotee next year and perform the rituals of Chhath with full devotion and faith.
May Chhathi Maiya guide and bless all those observing this festival, strengthening their spirits and fulfilling their prayers.
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