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New Delhi, Oct 25 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday greeted people on the occasion of Nahay-Khay, which marks the beginning of Chhath Puja, a symbol of tradition, faith and social harmony.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on social media platform
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta also extended her best wishes and said, “Chhath, the great festival of sun worship starting from Nahay-Khay, is a tradition of purity, discipline and self-control. The folk culture of Bihar has created a philosophy of life in this festival, where nature and faith are tied together. May Chhathi Maiya bestow happiness and peace on this holy occasion of Nahay-Khay and may there be prosperity in all families. May the Sun God give new light to India with his energy and may this folk tradition continue to show the path of unity, discipline and self-reliance to the entire country.
Chhath Puja is one of the most important Hindu festivals, celebrated mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh. It is also celebrated in some parts of Nepal and among Indian communities around the world.
Dedicated to the worship of Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya, this festival emphasizes on purity, gratitude and the well-being of one’s family.
Chhath Puja has its roots in the ancient eras of Satyayuga and Dwapara Yuga, making it believed to be one of the oldest known forms of Sun worship. Devotees celebrate the festival with strict discipline, abstaining from food and water for long periods of time to express devotion and seek blessings of prosperity, health and happiness. It is said that worshiping the Sun during Chhath removes negativity from life and brings peace and positivity.
The four-day celebration involves elaborate rituals that symbolize purification, faith, and self-control:
Day 1 – Nahai Khai: The festival begins with devotees taking a holy dip in the river or pond to purify themselves. They bring vegetables and pulses and prepare the first prasad with emphasis on cleanliness and purity.
Day 2 – Kharna: On this day, devotees observe a strict fast from sunrise to sunset. They prepare prasad of jaggery, rice and wheat and break their fast after offering the prasad to the deity in the evening. ‘Prasad (ritual food offerings)’ are shared with family, friends and neighbors to promote unity and community spirit.
Day 3 – Evening Arghya: Devotees gather near water bodies in the evening to offer ‘Arghya’ (prayers and offerings) to the setting sun. They offer fruits, sugarcane and prasad to express gratitude to the Sun God for sustaining life on earth.
Day 4 – Usha Arghya: The last day is dedicated to offering Arghya to the rising sun. Devotees break their fast after offering Prasad, a symbol of renewal and spiritual rebirth. Symbolizing the end of the ritual, Prasad is distributed among the family and community members.
Chhath Puja is celebrated with simplicity, dedication and purity. The offerings, including fruits, vegetables and sweets, represent the gifts of nature, and the ritual of fasting and prayer reflects the devotees’ desire to purify the body, mind and soul. The primary essence of Chhath Puja is gratitude, as it promotes respect for natural resources and a harmonious relationship between nature and mankind.
–IANS
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