Prime Minister Narendra modi, in his 94th Mann Ki Baat episode on Sunday, extended Chhath greetings to the nation and highlighted the significance of the ancient Hindu festival, which is spread over four days.
“Today, 'Chhath', the great festival of sun worship is being celebrated in many parts of the country. Lakhs of devotees have reached their villages, their homes, their families to be a part of the 'Chhath' festival. I pray that Chhath Maiya bless everyone with prosperity and well being… My best wishes to every devotee who is participating in this great festival,” the prime minister said.
The tradition of worshiping the Sun is a proof of how deep the Indian culture and faith is related to nature, he said, adding that “through this puja the importance of sunlight in our life has been illustrated”.
Various fruits and Thekua are offered in the worship of Chhath Maiya and the items used for worship are prepared by myriad people of the society together, the prime minister said.
“In this, a basket or supli made of bamboo is used. Earthen lamps have their own significance. Through this, the importance of farmers who grow gram and small entrepreneurs making batashas has been established in the society. Without their cooperation, the worship of Chhath, simply cannot be completed,” he elaborated.
Highlighting the significance of the Chhath Puja, the prime minister said, “Chhath festival emphasizes on the importance of cleanliness in our lives”. On the arrival of the festival, roads, rivers, ghats, various sources of water, all are cleaned at the community level.
The festival of Chhath is also an example of 'Ek Bharat- Shrestha Bharat', he said. The festival today is celebrated on a large scale in different districts of Maharashtra along with Delhi, Mumbai and many parts of Gujarat, he said.
Pointing out how solar energy is changing many lives in India, the prime minister said the blessing of Sun God worshipped during Chhath is - 'Solar Energy'. “The Sun God has not only been worshiped for centuries, but has also been the focus of our way of life. Today, India is combining its traditional experiences with modern science,” he said.
“The day is not far when the construction of Suryagrams in India will become a big mass movement,” he said.
Chhath festival is an ancient Hindu festival unique to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand. The festival, which is also known by different names such as Chhaith, Chhath Parva, Chhath Puja, Dala Chhath, Dala Puja and Surya Shashthi , is celebrated to offer prayers to the sun god, Surya and his sister Chhathi Maiya.
During the festival, prayers and religious rituals are performed over four days. People also hold fasting - 36-hour-long nirjala vrat, without food and water. THousands take part in spiritual bathing and cleansing in the holy river Ganges.
