Chhath Puja

Why is in news? Chhath Puja celebrations to begin on October 28 with religious fervour & gaiety

The four-day celebrations of Chhath Puja will begin on October 28 in different parts of the country with the traditional Nahay Khay ceremony.

During the Chhath Puja, devotees worship the Sun God and his wife Usha (Chhathi Maiya). It will culminate on Monday morning after paying oblation to the rising Sun.

In Bihar, elaborate arrangements have been made at various sun temples including in Aurangabad, Nalanda, and Patna.

Chhath is a Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun god and 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 Chhathi Maiya (also known as Usha, wife of the sun god).

The word chhath means sixth and the festival is celebrated on the sixth day after the Diwali.

The festival is observed over a period of four days. They 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.

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.