Chhath Pooja

Chhath Pooja

Subject: Art and Culture

Context: The administration in the national capital has put a ban on Chhath Puja festivities in the Yamuna river at Delhi’s ITO ghat.

Concept :

• The devotees will be allowed to perform Chhath Puja at articifical ghats created along the banks of the Yamuna by the Delhi government.
• Around 1.5 to 2 lakh people are expected to turn up at the ghat for Chhath Puja, raising concerns for the administration.

About Chhath Pooja Festival

• Chhath is a Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun godand his wife Usha in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth.
• The Goddess who is worshipped during the famous Chhath Puja is known as ChhathiMaiya (also known as Usha, wife of the sun god).
• The word chhath means sixth and the festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the month Kartika of the Hindu lunar Bikram Sambat calendar.

Rituals:

• The festival is observed over a period of four days.
• The rituals include holy bathing, fasting, standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prayers and food to the setting and rising sun.
• The main worshipers, called Parvaitin, are usually women. However, many men also observe this festival as Chhath is not a gender-specific festival.

Regions:

• The festival is observed most elaborately in Mithila Province of Nepal, Terai-Madhesh region of Nepal, Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and UP.
• It is also more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a presence.