Chhath

Chhath, also called Chhath Puja, is an ancient Hindu festival native to East India and southern Nepal. It is celebrated primarily in the Indian state of Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh; and Koshi, Gandaki, Bagmati, Lumbini, and Madhesh provinces of Nepal. In major urban centres like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Janakpur, and Kathmandu, the diaspora celebrates Chhath to preserve their cultural heritage. The festival is also celebrated by the diaspora in countries such as the United States, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Mauritius, Japan, and the United Kingdom. During Chhath Puja, prayers are dedicated to the solar deity, Surya, to express gratitude for the blessings of life on Earth and to seek the fulfilment of personal wishes. The Hindu goddess Chhathi Maiya (or Chhathi Mata)—the sixth form of Prakriti and Surya's sister—is also worshipped during the festival. It is celebrated for six days after Deepavali or Tihar, until the sixth day of the lunar month of Kartika (October or November) in the Hindu calendar (Vikram Samvat), which is why it is called 'Surya Shashti Vrata'. The rituals are observed over three nights and four days, and include holy bathing, fasting, abstaining from drinking water as a vrata (devotion), standing in water, and offering prasada (prayer offerings of food) and arghya to the rising and setting of the Sun. Some devotees also perform a prostration march as they head towards the riverbanks. All devotees prepare similar prasada and offerings.