Source: TOI
Context: The Bihar art and culture department has nominated INTACH as its knowledge partner to prepare the dossier for the inclusion of Chhath festival in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
About Chhath festival:
What it is?
- A Hindu Vedic festival dedicated to the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya (goddess said to be Surya’s sister).
- Celebrated twice a year — in Chaitra (March–April) and more prominently in Kartika (October–November).
Where it is Celebrated:
- Primarily in Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal.
- In recent decades, it has spread to Indian diasporas abroad.
History:
- Considered one of the oldest Vedic rituals, with references to sun worship found in the Rig Veda and in stories related to Karna (Mahabharata).
- The practice emphasizes austerity, purity, and deep ecological consciousness.
Features:
- A 4-day long festival with strict rituals:
- Nahay Khay (Chaturthi): Ritual bathing and vegetarian meal.
- Lohanda/Kharna: Day-long fast, broken with kheer and jaggery roti.
- Sandhya Arghya: Offering of evening prayers to the setting sun.
- Usha Arghya: Dawn prayers to the rising sun, marking completion.
- Devotees observe fasting, abstinence, holy dips, and offering prasad such as Thekua, Kasar, Kheer, and seasonal fruits.
- Deeply community-driven, celebrated on riverbanks, ponds, and water bodies.
Significance:
- Symbolises gratitude to the Sun God for sustaining life and promoting prosperity, health, and longevity.
- Encourages discipline, simplicity, and ecological harmony through frugal rituals.
