Maha Parv Chhath – A Celebration of Faith, Nature & Purity

Maha Parv Chhath – A Celebration of Faith, Nature & Purity 🌞

Text & Photos by – Ashok Karan

The much-awaited four-day, environment-friendly and deeply spiritual Hindu festival — Chhath Maha Parv — concluded this morning with devotion and divine fervor. Dedicated to Lord Surya (Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, this festival is celebrated with immense reverence across Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Known for its rigorous rituals and eco-friendly practices, Chhath stands as a unique expression of purity, penance, and gratitude toward nature.

I still fondly remember my childhood days when my mother performed this sacred Puja with unmatched devotion and simplicity. As children, we eagerly waited for the Kharna Prasad — the divine offering of kheer and roti cooked on a traditional clay stove (earthen chulha) using dried wood. That authentic aroma and taste are forever etched in my memory. I would enthusiastically help in every ritual, sometimes even carrying the bamboo baskets filled with Puja items on my head!

Every year, the Chhath festival season transforms local markets — prices of vegetables, fruits, bamboo baskets (sup/muram), and earthen pots soar dramatically. A whole banana stalk can cost ₹500–700, and every item seems to cross ₹100 per kg. Yet, devotees joyfully bear these costs, as the essence of the festival lies in devotion, purity, and sustainability.

✨ Spiritual Essence of Chhath Maha Parv ✨
• Celebration of Nature: Chhath honors the Sun, the eternal source of life and energy sustaining our planet.
• Unique Dual Worship: Unlike other rituals, devotees offer Arghya (water oblations) to both the setting and rising sun, symbolizing humility and new beginnings.
• Discipline & Purity: Observers undergo a 36-hour fast without water (Nirjala Vrat), representing immense spiritual strength and inner purification.
• Unity Beyond Barriers: Chhath transcends caste, creed, and class — uniting communities on riverbanks and ghats in shared devotion.
• Eco-conscious Practices: No idol worship or immersions — only natural offerings like fruits, sugarcane, and earthen lamps are used, reflecting harmony with the environment.

🌅 The Four Sacred Days of Chhath Puja 🌅
1️⃣ Nahaye Khaye (Bath & Eat): Devotees take a holy dip and prepare a pure meal free from onion and garlic.
2️⃣ Kharna: A day-long fast without water, broken in the evening after offering kheer, roti, and fruits to Mother Earth.
3️⃣ Sandhya Arghya (Evening Offering): Devotees stand waist-deep in water, offering Arghya to the setting sun amid devotional songs.
4️⃣ Usha Arghya (Morning Offering): The final day — devotees worship the rising sun, conclude their 36-hour fast, and share Prasad with the community.

🍪 Thekua, the traditional sweet made from wheat flour, jaggery, and ghee, remains the most loved and sacred offering of Chhath Puja. The air resonates with soulful folk songs by artists like Sharda Sinha, Maithili Thakur, and Manoj Tiwari, celebrating the divine energy of Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya.

The sight of thousands gathered along the ghats, singing in unison under the glow of countless diyas, creates an atmosphere that is truly divine and transcendent.

🙏 Wishing everyone love, light, and divine blessings on this sacred occasion of Chhath Puja. May your homes be filled with faith, joy, and prosperity.

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