Chhath Puja is the most sacred and important festival in Purnia and across Bihar. It is dedicated to the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya, believed to bless families with health, prosperity, and happiness.
🌿 Significance of Chhath Puja
- One of the oldest Vedic festivals in India
- Worship of Sun (energy, life source) and nature
- Strong belief in purity, discipline, and devotion
- No idol worship – rituals are performed directly facing the sun and water
- Celebrated mainly by people of Bihar, especially in Purnia, with deep emotional connection
- Devotees take a holy dip in river/pond
- Clean their homes and kitchens
- Eat only pure vegetarian food (like pumpkin curry, rice, dal)
- Marks the beginning of strict discipline
- Devotees observe a full-day fast without water
- In the evening, they prepare kheer (rice pudding), roti, and bananas
- Offer it to God and then eat (this is called Kharna Prasad)
- After this, a 36-hour nirjala (no water) fast begins
- Final ritual at sunrise
- Devotees offer Arghya to the rising sun
- Seek blessings for family well-being
- After this, they break their 36-hour fast with prasad
🍪 Special Prasad of Chhath Puja
- Thekua (most famous sweet made of wheat, jaggery, ghee)
- Rice laddoos
- Fruits (banana, coconut, apple)
- Sugarcane
- All prasad is made without salt, garlic, or onion
🙏 Unique Features of Chhath Puja
- 🔥 One of the strictest fasts (36 hours without water)
- 🌊 Worship happens in natural water bodies (rivers, ponds)
- 🧼 Extreme focus on cleanliness and purity
- 🎶 Traditional folk songs (Chhath geet) fill the air
- 👨👩👧👦 Entire family and community participate together
