Chhath Puja 2023 Significance and History: In Hindu religion, there are many fasts and festivals throughout the year. But Chhath festival falling in the month of Kartik has special significance. This year, Chhath festival has started on 17th November with Nahay Khay and will end with Usha Arghya on 20th November 2023.
Chhath festival is dedicated to nature, Usha, air, water and Goddess Shashthi. Sun God is worshiped in this. Chhath festival is celebrated with great pomp in a large part of India like Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Let us tell you that Chhath festival is celebrated twice a year (Chaitra and Kartik months). Even though Chhath is a major and popular festival of Bihar, faith in this festival is seen all over the country. Therefore, it is celebrated by people of Indian origin in India as well as abroad.
If we talk about the history of Chhath, the great festival of folk faith, then the history of Chhath festival is very interesting and is linked to the times of Satyayuga and Tretayuga. Many mythological stories and beliefs are prevalent regarding the history of Chhath festival. Let us know about it.
Ramji and Sita had observed Chhath fast
The history of Chhath festival is linked to the Ramayana period i.e. Tretayuga. According to mythology, when Ramji and Mother Sita returned to Ayodhya after completing 14 years of exile, Ramji performed Rajasuya Yagya on the orders of sages to absolve them of the sin of killing Ravana. Mugdal Rishi called Ramji and Mother Sita to his ashram for the yagya. On the advice of Mugdal Rishi, Mother Sita worshiped Sun God and observed a fast on the sixth day of Kartik Shukla. After this, both Mother Sita and Ramji stayed in the ashram of Mugdal Rishi and worshiped for six days. Therefore, the beginning of Chhath festival is considered to be from the Ramayana period.
Relation to Chhath festival of Mahabharata period
Along with Ramayana, the importance of Chhath festival has also been mentioned in Mahabharata. According to this, when Pandavas lost their kingdom in gambling, Draupadi observed Chhath fast. It was only due to the influence of Chhath fast and the grace of Sun God that the Pandavas were able to get back the kingdom.
Relation of Shri Krishna’s son Samb with Chhath fast
It is said that Samb, son of Shri Krishna and Jamvanti, was cursed to be a leprosy patient. To free them from this curse, Narad ji suggested the solution to build 12 sun temples. After this, Samba built Sun temples at 12 places including Ulark (Ular), Lolark, Aungark, Konark, Devart and worshiped the Sun God by taking bath in the pond of Ular for the whole month and a quarter. By the grace of Lord Bhaskar, Samba was freed from the curse of leprosy. Even today, Chhath Puja is organized every year in the world famous Ular Sun Temple built by Samba.
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