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Chhath Chhath is an important festival celebrated by Hindus in Nepal and India, lasting for four days and dedicated to the worship of the Sun God. During this festival, devotees pray to Goddess Shashthi for the well-being of their children, husbands, and families, particularly in the Terai region of Nepal. Starting from the fifth day, both men and women observe a fast, taking a holy bath in sacred waters, and prepare a special dish of milk, rice, and sugar to share with family and friends. According to tradition, on the evening of the festival, participants stand by the water to offer prayers to the setting sun and spend the night singing devotional songs by the riverside. The next morning, they offer prayers to the rising sun, believing that celebrating Chhath brings family welfare and fulfills wishes. The history of Chhath dates back to ancient times, with references to sun worship found in texts like the Agni Purana and the Mahabharata, where the Pandavas and others observed this festival. Chhath is celebrated in the month of Kartik, and a similar festival, Chaitra Chhath, is observed in some places in the month of Chaitra. The rituals associated with Chhath include fasting and bathing on specific days, with offerings of fruits and traditional sweets made to the sun. Participants emphasize purity during these rituals, believing that sincere devotion brings immediate results. This dedication extends beyond the individual, as families collectively uphold the traditions to ensure everything remains pure. Chhath Immersion The Chhath festival concludes the day after the sixth day, during Brahma Muhurat, when people take offerings to the riverbank, bathe, and again offer prayers to the rising sun. After this, they share the sacred food, known as prasad, which includes sugarcane, bottle gourd, bananas, coconuts, sweets, chickpeas, traditional sweets like thekua and kachori, lemons, and ginger. Special offerings are made using thekua made from wheat flour and kachori made from rice flour, cooked in pure ghee. Devotees believe that honoring Chhath Mata fulfills all their wishes and can also bring relief from skin diseases. Some devotees complete their fast by bathing at the river or pond in the evening and morning. Many celebrate by dancing, making clay elephants for the pond, and lighting lamps if their wishes are fulfilled. The festival is also significant for health, as sunlight provides vitamin D, emphasizing its ongoing importance in human health. Beginning on the day of Kartik Shukla Chaturdashi, Chhath is a festival of sun worship marked by deep devotion and respect. It honors both the setting and rising sun, celebrating even the setting sun, which is often overlooked in society. This festival teaches that everyone deserves equal treatment, just as the sun provides light equally to all beings. Celebrated twice a year in the months of Chaitra and Kartik, Chhath focuses on purity and cleanliness. It is believed that following the rituals diligently can alleviate all troubles. People engage in Chhath worship to seek cures for ailments, blessings for children, and fulfillment of vows. The rituals require offerings of sugarcane, bottle gourd, turmeric, ginger, coconuts, barley, traditional sweets, and fruits. The festival embodies the principle of equality, recognizing the sun as a symbol of equal strength, warmth, and light for all living beings, and the worship is done with complete devotion over four days. Chhath Festival Overview First Day The Chhath festival begins on Kartik Shukla Chaturthi, right after Tihar, and is dedicated to sun worship. Devotees, known as vrataalu, begin their observance by following a ritual of cleanliness. They wake up early, trim their nails, bathe with pure water, wear clean clothes, and perform prayers, consuming pure food as part of their preparations. Second Day The second day of Chhath is called "Kharna." After bathing and purifying themselves, devotees partake in a special meal in the evening, which includes sweet rice pudding (sakhara) and bottle gourd curry. This day is marked by a single meal to prepare for the fasting on the following day, as devotees typically do not consume anything, even water, in anticipation of the fast. Third Day The third day is the main day of Chhath. Devotees observe a full day of fasting without water. In the evening, they gather at nearby water bodies—such as ponds, lakes, or wells—to perform rituals honoring the setting sun. Offerings prepared for the sun are submerged in water as part of the ceremony. Some devotees stay in the water all night, performing prayers until sunrise, while others emerge after making their offerings. The night is filled with singing and dancing, and the banks are decorated beautifully for the occasion. Fourth Day The following morning, devotees continue their worship of the rising sun. They fill their palms with water to offer to the sun, alongside traditional offerings such as sweets, fruits, and thekua. After completing the rituals, they return home to partake in the prasad (offering) and complete their fasting. Significance and Spread Historically, Chhath was celebrated primarily in the Madhesh region, but it has now gained popularity across the country, including the Kathmandu Valley. In recent years, places like Rani Pokhari, Kamal Pokhari, the banks of the Bagmati River, and other water bodies have become popular sites for the celebration. This festival not only fosters religious beliefs but is also viewed as a means to attain family happiness and prosperity. Like other festivals, Chhath holds a unique importance in cultural practices.
