Uttarakhand: Bihari Mahasabha will celebrate Chhath festival with great pomp in Dehradun – Lallan Singh, President, Bihari Mahasabha
The four-day long Chhath festival begins six days after Diwali. The worship of Sun God and Shashthi Devi has special importance in this festival. In Dehradun, an executive meeting was called at Capri Trade Center regarding the preparations for the Bihari Mahasabha Chhath. It was unanimously decided in the meeting that the Bihari Mahasabha will organize the Chhath festival this year as well, just like every year. This time the Bihari Mahasabha has decided to celebrate Chhath Puja, the festival of folk faith, with great pomp and show. For its preparation, various committees are being formed. In every committee, the nominated member will have his responsibility, which the said members have to fulfill by being present. On this occasion, the Sabha’s president Lalan Singh, while addressing the meeting, said that Chhath Puja will be organized mainly at Tapkeshwar Mahadev Mandir/Prem Nagar/Chandrabani/Maldevta*. A working committee has been formed for the preparation of the puja and responsibilities have been distributed among the members. It has been decided in the meeting of the Mahasabha that the program will be organized in Chandrabani, Tapkeshwar, Prem Nagar, Maldevta this year as well, like every year.
Secretary Chandan Kumar Jha said that preparations for Chhath festival start after Diwali. Chhath Mahaparva is celebrated with great pomp 6 days after Diwali. This festival is celebrated with great pomp especially in states like Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. Not only in India, but the popularity of Chhath Mahaparva is seen even abroad today. Chhath Puja fast is one of the toughest fasts. In this, the rules of fasting have to be followed for the entire four days and the fasting person keeps a waterless fast for the entire 36 hours. This year Chhath fast is starting from November 5 with Nahai Khay. Nahai Khay, Kharna, Astachalgami Arghya and Usha Arghya have special significance in Chhath Puja. When is Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja 2024 Calendar
- First day of Chhath Puja, 5 November 2024- Nahai Khay (Tuesday)
- Second day of Chhath Puja, 6 November 2024- Kharna (Wednesday)
- Third day of Chhath Puja, 7 November 2024- Sandhya Arghya (Thursday)
- Fourth day of Chhath Puja, 8 November 2024- Usha Arghya (Friday)
Ritesh Kumar, treasurer of Bihari Mahasabha, said in the meeting that Chhath Puja has many important and religious rules. The rules of Chhath Puja last for four full days. On the Chaturthi of Kartik Shukla Paksha, food is consumed only after taking bath. It is also called Nahai Khay. On this day, pumpkin rice prasad is eaten. On the day of Kartik Shukla Panchami, Lord Sun is worshipped by worshiping in a river or pond. Kharna is performed in the evening. In Kharna, kheer and unsalted puris are taken as prasad. After Kharna, the waterless fast begins. On the day of Kartik Shukla Shashthi also, the fasting women keep fast and in the evening they go to a river or pond and offer arghya to the setting sun. This arghya is offered by placing fruits, thekua prasad, sugarcane, coconut etc. in a bamboo basket. Arghya is offered to the rising sun on the morning of Kartik Shukla Saptami. On this day, the Chhath fast is completed and the fasting woman breaks the fast.
