Patna. Kartik Chhath, the four-day festival of sun worship in Bihar, started from today with Nahay-Khay. The four-day ritual of Chhath, the great festival of folk faith, has started with Nahay-Khay on Saturday. On the first day of Chhath, the fasting men and women started this fast by taking Arwa food after taking bath in the pure and clean water of rivers and ponds as a pledge to take bath and eat for the purification of conscience.
Since morning, devotees were seen taking bath in river Ganga, ponds, ponds etc. One specialty of this fast, which is observed for the happiness, prosperity of the family and for the relief of troubles, is that no priest (Pandit) is required to observe this festival. On the second day of the great festival Chhath, men and women fasting will once again start their fast after taking bath in rivers and ponds.
After fasting throughout the day, the devotee will worship Lord Sun and eat kheer made of milk and jaggery only once at sunset. After this, he will be able to consume water only till the moon is visible and after that, his fast of about 36 hours without food and water will start.
On the third day of this great festival, the fasting people will stand in rivers and ponds and offer the first Arghya to the setting sun. The fasting people offer water from fruits and tubers to the setting sun.
On the fourth and last day of the festival, a second Arghya will be offered to the rising sun in rivers and ponds. Only after offering the second Arghya, the devotees’ fast of about 36 hours ends and they consume food and water.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has extended his congratulations and best wishes to the state and countrymen on the occasion of Chhath, the four-day festival of folk faith. He has said that this great festival of folk faith is a festival of self-discipline, in which people offer Arghya to the setting and rising Lord Surya with spiritual purification and a pure mind.
On the occasion of Chhath, he has prayed to Lord Bhaskar for the progress, happiness, prosperity, peace and harmony of the state and has appealed to the people of the state to celebrate this great festival together with mutual love, mutual harmony and peace.
Chhathi Maiya’s songs are resonating in Bihar
On the occasion of Chhath, the great festival of folk faith, the songs of Chhathi Maiya are resonating throughout Bihar including the capital Patna, due to which the whole atmosphere has become devotional. The great festival of folk faith, Chhath, has started from today with Nahay-Khay. There is a lot of activity in Bihar regarding the great festival Chhath. People have started preparing for the rituals of Chhath festival. Traditional songs of Chhath are resonating everywhere, due to which the whole atmosphere looks Chhath-like. The capital is fragrant and buzzing with the songs of Chhathi Mai.
Even in the monasteries and temples of the city, the morning has started with the songs of Chhathi Mai. Somewhere Sharda Sinha’s voice is pouring juice that ‘Mor jiya jaela mahanga Munger’ and somewhere the voice of Devi is singing the glory of the festival in the ears that ‘Kanch hi bamboo ke bahangiya, bahangi lachkat jaaye’… Kelva je farela ghavad se, oh par suga medrai, adit liho mor argiya., dars dekhaav e dinanath., ugi hai surujdev., he chhathi maiya tohar mahima apar., kaach hi bass ke bahangiya bahangi lachkat jaye., etc. are the themes of Chhath songs.
People have started taking a dip in the Ganges of devotion through devotional songs. Modernity has definitely come in the songs, but the popularity of these songs has not decreased even a bit. On the occasion of Chhath, the great festival of folk faith, songs filled with the sweet fragrance of soil have started playing at all the major intersections of the capital Patna. From ‘Marbo re sugwa dhanush se, suga gire murujhaaye’ to ‘Darsan dinhi apar he Chhath maiya darsan dinhi apar’. Without Chhath songs, it seems as if the festival has no colour.
Every person, from small to big, is busy with this four-day ritual. Every member of every house has some responsibility. The youngest member of the family has been given the responsibility of playing Chhath song in a slow voice through online medium. The sound of songs is coming from the houses where Chhath festival was organised. Apart from this, wherever you pass, you will get to hear such songs sung by various folk singers.
These songs are composed and compiled only for the festival of Chhath. An interesting thing related to Chhath songs is that they are sung in the same rhythm. As soon as folk songs of ‘Chhath Puja’ are discussed, the name of late Sharda Sinha first comes to mind. There are many such songs, which Sharda Sinha has immortalized by giving her melodious voice. Folk songs are Kerat. ‘Chhath’, the sacred festival of Sun worship, is known for its religious, traditional and folk importance as well as folk songs.
On the ghats, songs like ‘Chhathi Maiya ki Jai, Jaldi Jaldi Ugi Hey Suraj Dev..’, ‘Kaili Baratiya Tohar Hey Chhathi Maiya..’, ‘Darshan Dihi Hey Adit Dev..’, ‘Kaun Din Ugi Chhai Hey Dinanath..’ are heard. The atmosphere resonates with reverence and devotion with the sound of auspicious songs. The traditional tune of these songs is so melodious that even if one does not understand Bhojpuri dialect, the song sounds beautiful. This is the reason why this traditional tune has been used in hundreds of songs.
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