Chhath festival main fasting rituals commence

Kathmandu- The Chhath festival observed as common cultural symbol of the Tarai is being celebrated as per religious tradition and much fanfare starting from today. The festival is dedicated to the sun God, with offerings made to the rising and setting sun. It is observed for four days, from Kartik Shukala Chaturthi to Kartik Shukla Saptami as per the lunar calendar.

It usually falls between Mid-October and Mid-November in the Gregorian calendar. The Sun, considered as the god of energy and of the life-force, is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. Those observing the Chhath fasting take a bath in the morning and partake only a single meal today. This observance is called the ‘Nahaya Khaya’.

Although the Chhath rituals commence from the day of Kojagart Poornima, the major fasting rituals start from Chaturthi. The next day or Kartik Shukla Panchami, those observing the fast, offer a special rice pudding mixed with molasses called ‘Kharana’ to the Shasti Mata deity, and partake it.

They abstain from food items mixed with salt and only take fruits for meal. On the day of Kattik Shukla Shasthi which is the main day of the Chhath festival, the devotees observing the fast practice a rigorous fasting even not drinking water. In the evening, they worship the setting sun, making the Arghya offerings, said Anil Singh who is facilitating the Chhath worship at Guhyeswari Gaurighat Chhath Worship Committee. This year, the main day of Chhath festival falls on November 7.

In Kathmandu, the area from Guhyeswari to Gaurighat, Gahana Pokhari, Naag Pokhari, Kamal Pokhari and the different ghats along the Bagmati at Thapathali, Nakhkhu and the ghats along the Bishnumati and other rivers have been decorated for the Chhath festival. The ritual of Chhath Parba includes taking holy bath, fasting, standing and worshiping the sun for a long time and offering Prasad and Argha to the ‘rising and setting Sun”.

Chhath is a festival of bathing and worshipping that follows a period of abstinence and segregation of the worshipper from the main household for four days. During this period, the worshipper observes purity and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket. This is the only holy festival which has no involvement of any pandit (priest). The devotees offer their prayers to the setting sun, and then the rising sun in celebrating its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death. It is seen as the most glorious form of Sun worship.