10 Interesting facts about Chhath Puja you didn’t know!
Did you know that Chhath Puja is celebrated twice in a year! Keep reading to know about such interesting facts related to Chhath puja.
Chhath Puja is the only Hindu Puja festival that does not require a priest to sanctify the ceremony
Chhath puja is performed mainly on Kartika Shukla Shashthi, which fall on the 6th day of the Kartika month in the Vikram Samvat. The Goddess who is worshipped on this auspicious Chhath Puja is well-known as Chhathi Maiya. Chhathi Maiya is also called as Usha in the Vedas.
Read complete details about Chhath Puja
So let us look at 10 Interesting facts about Chhath Puja you didn’t know!
1. MOST ANCIENT FESTIVAL THAT IS STILL CELEBRATED
Chhath Puja is the oldest known festival that is stills celebrated. Chhath puja has a great importance during the sunrise & sunset periods, apparently because it’s a festival of the sun god. The devotee believes that sunrise and sunset are the most significant time of the day during when a body can safely get the positive solar energy without any harm.
On the scientific side of it, this period the solar energy has a very low level of harmful ultraviolet radiations so it is safe for our body.
2. YOU HAVE TO REMAIN EXTREMELY PURE (VRATI) THROUGHOUT THIS DEMANDING PUJA CELEBRATION
It is believed that worshiper of the Chhath Puja take holy bath and follows a period of abstinence and become separate from the main family for four days. Throughout the period he/ she is believed as the pure spirit and sleep on the floor. The people who take fast during the 4 days of the Chhath puja celebration are known as Vrati.
3. ONCE YOU START THE CHHTH PUJA THE FAMILY IS COMMITTED TO PERFORM YEARLY AND PASS ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION
Interestingly it is firmly believed that once a family begins Chhath Puja; they have to perform it yearly as well as pass it to his next generations. The only exception is severe illness or death in the family or of the Vrati.
4. THE SPECIAL PRASAD OR HOLY FOOD FOR CHHATH
Devotees offer unique and special prasad (holy food) to Lord Surya and mostly they are sweets, Kheer, Thekua and fruits kept in a bamboo tokari. The prasad should not be cooked with salt, onions or garlic. The most important offering during this Chhath puja is date fruits (Khajur). After the final aarti to Lord Sun, devotee distributes the date fruits to all those gathered.
5. CLAIMS ABOUT HEALTH BENEFITS OF CHHATH PUJA
Benefits-The ritual of Chhath puja enhances the energy level, provides the mental calmness (by detoxifying the body and mind) and enhances immunity power, reduces the frequency of anger, jealous as well as negative emotions. It is believed that Chhath puja rituals also help in slowing down the aging process.
6. MOST DIVERSE FOOD AND OTHER ITEMS AND INGREDIENTS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE CHHATH PUJA COMPARED TO OTHER INDIAN FESTIVALS
Things you need for the puja- Images or pictures of Lord Surya and Lord Ganesh, turmeric powder, roli (vermilion), akshat (raw rice), a chawki, red colour cloth, earthen lamp, incense sticks, ghee and wicks, camphor, date fruits (khajur), betel leaves, a small piece of sandal (Chandan), fruits and nuts and sweet dishes. Installing Lord Surya (Sun) Yantra is also considered very auspicious during Chhat Puja. Wearing Ruby (Manikya) Ring on this special event also brings effective fortune to its user.
7. CELEBRATION OF NEW HARVEST
The festival of Chhath puja also represents the celebration of the new harvest. The believers offer food preparation made with latest harvest and fruits to the Surya Dev.
8. During the 4 days of the Chhath puja, the body functioning is heightened and a change takes place in the whole body system. The Puja celebration also helps to build up the strong intuition and telepathy.
9. CEREMONY SIMILAR TO CHHATH IS CELEBRATED IN MANY COUNTRIES
This tradition of worshiping Lord Sun (As in Chhath Puja), the sustainer of life on earth was also widespread in the ancient Egyptian and Babylonian civilizations thus are not limited to India. It is also celebrated in countries like Fiji, Mauritius, Trinidad, and Tobago, etc. as a part of their own civilizations & customs.
10. CHHATH PUJA IS CELEBRATED TWICE A YEAR
Not many people know that Chhath Puja Festival is celebrated twice a year. It is celebrated once in the winter and another one in the summer season. The Kartik Chhath is celebrated in the Oct or Nov month and Chaiti Chhath Puja is celebrated after a few days of Holi.
You May Also Like
