Chhath Puja is a four-day-long main festival celebrated by people from the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and the country of Nepal with great enthusiasm.
Chhath Puja is a Hindu festival which is dedicated to Lord Surya (Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya. This festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the month of Kartik. In both Nepali and Hindi languages, the word Chhath means sixth.

Religious View: Chhath is dedicated to worship the Chhathi Maiya and Lord Surya (Sun God) along with his consorts Usha (Dawn goddess) and Pratyusha (Dusk goddess). The ancient Vedas (Rigveda) also contains hymns of worshipping the Sun. It is said that Lord Rama and maa Sita kept fast and offered puja to the sun in the Kartik month after returning from their exile period. In Mahabharata, Draupadi also performed similar rituals as performed in Chhat pooja.

Ritual: The festival is observed over a period of four days. The rituals include fasting, holy bathing, and offering prayers and food to the setting and rising sun. People who observe the fast during this festival are called Vrati.

a) Nahay Khay: On the first day of Chhath Puja, devotees have to take a dip in the holy river (mostly in Kosi, Karnali and Ganga) and carry home the holy water to prepare the offerings. Devotees observe a fast on this day and consume meals just once.

b) Lohanda and Kharna: On the second day, the devotees have a fast for the entire day and break it in the evening after sunset. They prepare offerings of kheer, bananas and rice for their family. After consuming the offering, they have to fast without water for 36 hours.

c) Sandhya Arghya: On the third day, devotees prepare prasad at home. After preparing the prasad, the devotees take a dip in the holy river in the evening and worship the Lord Surya and Chhathi maiyya. The females generally wear yellow colour sarees. Folk songs are sung all around with enthusiasm.

d) Usha Arghya: On the fourth day, devotees along with their families go to the holy river before sunrise to worship and make offerings to the sun, following which they break their fast. Prasad distribution marking the end of the festival.

Food during Chhath Puja is prepared using flour, rice, fresh fruits, dry fruits, nuts, jaggery, coconut, and ghee. Salt, onion, and garlic are not used during the four days of Chhath Puja. Thekua, a dry sweet specially prepared during Chhath Puja festival is basically a cookie made with whole wheat flour.

Scientific Significance: The ultraviolet rays of the sun are at their lowest during sunrise and sunset. As part of ritual, taking dips in water and exposing the body to sun increases the flow of solar bio electricity which ultimately improves the functionality of the body for the upcoming winter season.

Environmental Perspective: As per Environmentalists, Chhath is one of the most eco-friendly religious festival. No idol worship, so no pollution caused by use of plastic, color, metals, etc. in constructing an idol.

Societal Importance: Every devotee prepares almost similar Prasad and without any distinction in caste, colour or wealth perform the same rituals by arriving at the bank of river to spread the message of equality, fraternity, unity and integrity. Even some Muslim people also celebrate Chhath.

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