KATHMANDU – The Chhath festival, observed as a common cultural symbol of the Tarai/Madhes, is beginning today. The festive fanfare has also been seen in different parts of the Kathmandu valley, including Ranipokhari, Gaurighat and Kupondole.
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 October and 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. The rituals of the Chhath festival include taking holy baths, fasting and worshiping the Sun for a long time and offering prasad and argha (curd) to the ‘Rising and Setting Sun’. Chhath is a festival of bathing and worshipping that follows a period of abstinence and segregation of the worshiper from the main household for four days.
During this period, the worshiper 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.
Main rituals of the festival, observed in succession in a period of four days, include Arba-Arbain, kharana, offering argha to the setting sun and also offering argha to the rising sun.
Arba-Arbain ritual is observed on the first day. This ritual is also called nahaya-khaya. Devotees begin observing a fast from this day and abstain from eating meat and fish, onion, garlic, millet and lentils. They take holy dips in ponds and rivers on this day in the early morning to begin the fast.
On the second day (panchami), kharana ritual is observed, which is also known as ‘reduction of sins’. A paste prepared by mixing rice flour and holy water is sprinkled over the place and the altar for performing Chhath rituals. The devotees observe a complete fast on this day without drinking water. They offer rice pudding to the moon and partake this offering.
On the third day of the festival, various delicacies are prepared from flour of rice and wheat grains ground in traditional grinders. All family members go to the ponds or the banks of the river, carrying a variety of offerings, amidst singing of devotional and folk songs.
Parvan rituals are observed on the fourth day or the last day of the Chhath festival. On this day, the devotees go to the banks of the pond or the river, specially anointed for rituals in the early morning. As per the myth, human civilization developed on the river banks and the sun and water are the most essential elements out of the five main elements that sustain life on earth.
