New Delhi — As Chhath Puja preparations begin across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to share songs related to the festival, promising to repost them over the coming days.
Posting on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said: “Chhath, the grand festival dedicated to nature and culture, is approaching. Devotees across Bihar and the country are already engaged in preparations with devotion. Songs dedicated to Chhathi Maiya further enhance the grandeur and divinity of this sacred occasion. I request you to share songs related to Chhath Puja with me. I will share them with all my countrymen over the next few days.”
This year, Chhath Puja will be celebrated from Saturday to October 28. The four-day festival, primarily observed in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, as well as parts of Nepal and Indian communities abroad, is dedicated to worshipping the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya to seek blessings for prosperity, health, and well-being.
The festival, rooted in ancient Satyuga and Dwapara Yuga traditions, is among the oldest forms of Sun worship. Devotees observe strict discipline, including fasting and offering prayers, to purify body, mind, and soul.
The four-day rituals include:
- Day 1 – Nahai Khai: Devotees take a holy dip and prepare initial offerings of vegetables and pulses, symbolising purity.
- Day 2 – Kharna: A fast is observed from sunrise to sunset, broken with offerings of jaggery, rice, and wheat, shared with family and neighbours.
- Day 3 – Sandhya Arghya: Evening prayers and offerings are made to the setting Sun, expressing gratitude for sustaining life.
- Day 4 – Usha Arghya: Devotees offer prayers to the rising Sun, break their fast, and distribute prasad to mark spiritual renewal.
Chhath Puja highlights gratitude, simplicity, and harmony with nature, with offerings of fruits, vegetables, and sweets symbolising respect for natural resources and the enduring bond between humans and the environment.
With inputs from IANS