CHATTH POOJA
Chatth Pooja is a celebrated festival of the North Indian states and the most awaited festival for the Biharis. It is a very old tradition which is being celebrated in India. The Indian mythologies like Ramayana and Mahabharata also mention about the rituals of Chatth Pooja. It is said that Chatth was first celebrated the Pandavas and Draupadi to celebrate rejoice the victory of reconquering.
Let us know some rituals of Chatth Puja today.
credit: Wikipedia
The first day of Chhath Puja is called Nahay Khay.
People brush their teeth with mango twigs. After brushing, they go to take a dip in holy water of Ganga. Some of the holy water is brought home. With the holy water, the Prasad is prepared for the Lord Surya. The devotees eat only before Surya Uday. After consuming food, the devotees can have water only once. From that point, the fast continues for the next 36 hours. One cannot consume water, that is why it is known as ‘Nirjal’.
The second day of Pooja is called Kharna. The evening of the second day is devoted to Chatth Maiyya. The Prasad prepared is used to break the fast. Prasad prepared is Puri and Gud ki Kheer. One cannot consume salt on this day.
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The third day is called Sandhya Arghya.
It is the last day of the auspicious festival. The devotees gather at the bank of the holy river and offer Bhorwa Argya to the rising sun. They pray Chatth Maiyya and distribute Thekua. The fast is broken with ginger and water. The female devotees spend their night by singing Chatth geet.
credit: Wikipedia
The fourth day is called Usha Arghya.
The Chatth Pooaj comes to an end after offering Argha and Surya Namaskar to the rising sun. On the banks of Holy River, the devotees bend down on their knees and offer prayer to the Chatth Maiyya after Arghya.
This is how the four days of Chatt Pooja are performed.
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