Chaiti Chhath Festival Commences in Patna with Sacred Nahay-Khay Rituals
The four-day Chaiti Chhath festival began on Sunday with the traditional nahay-khay rituals, marking the start of a vibrant celebration across eastern India. This festival, deeply rooted in cultural heritage, symbolizes profound gratitude towards nature, the sun, and water, with devotees offering prayers for the prosperity and well-being of all.
Devotees Throng Ganga Ghats for Holy Dip and Spiritual Renewal
On Sunday morning, devotees, including women and children, flocked to the ghats of the Ganga River in Patna to take a holy dip. Carrying sacred vessels and singing traditional Chhath songs, they immersed themselves in the river's waters, seeking spiritual cleansing and renewal. Many also cleaned their vessels using the soil from the ghats, adhering to age-old customs.
Sushma Raj, a devotee at Digha Ghat, shared her experience: "I arrived at the ghat by 7am with my entire family. We brought vessels filled with Gangajal to take home, as this water will be used to prepare the 'prasad'. During Chhath, the whole family stays together, and our house comes alive with festivity."
Strict Purity and Traditional Food Preparations
During Chhath, worshippers maintain strict purity in their food preparations, utilizing only Ganga water and pure ghee. After bathing, they prepare maha-prasad, which typically includes rice, dal, and bottle gourd vegetable. The festival emphasizes the significance of specific ingredients believed to enhance health and well-being.
Samir Mishra, a local priest at a temple on Nehru Path, explained the meticulous process: "The wheat for the 'prasad' is washed with Gangajal and dried. Devotees guard it to ensure no bird or insect touches it, often singing folk songs with their families. Consuming bottle gourd, 'arwa' rice, chana dal, and amla syrup on nahai-khai day holds special meaning, while the 'kharna prasad' mixed with raw sugarcane juice and jaggery is said to cure skin diseases and eye ailments, boosting radiance and intellectual capacity."
Family Bonding and Joyful Participation
Children actively participate in the rituals, finding joy in the festive atmosphere. Raman Kumar, a Class VIII student visiting Collectorate Ghat with his family, said: "Chhath is a lot of fun for us. We visit the ghats for the evening and morning 'arghya' and enjoy eating 'thekua' after the puja. It's a time when all family members stay together." His mother is observing the Chhath puja, highlighting the intergenerational nature of the celebration.
Spiritual Significance and Conclusion of the Festival
Chaiti Chhath is believed to bring good health and alleviate hardships in children's lives. Lord Surya, revered as a visible deity, is seen as a tangible manifestation of divine energy that sustains the universe. Observing this sacred fast is thought to usher happiness, peace, and prosperity into homes.
The festival will conclude on March 25 with the morning arghya offering to the sun god, capping off a period of devotion and community bonding that reinforces cultural traditions and spiritual values.
