Chhath festival / Chhath Parba
Chhath festival is also one of the popular festival celebrated in Nepal. It is spoken as ( Chhath ) in common language in Nepal. It usually occurs in the Kartik of Nepali month and some times in Mangsir of Nepali month also. Translating Nepali month into English month it is , October and November.
Chhath festival is celebrated for 4 days from Kartik Shukala Chaturthi to Kartik Shukala Saptami . Chhath is also celebrated in Chaitra Shastri in the early summer about March or April and it is called Chhaiti chhath but Kartik Shukala Shastri Chhath is more popular.
 |
| Celebration of Chhath festival |
The Sun source power of nature is regarded as the god of energy and lord of the life - force so people worships Sun in Chhath to promote well- being , progress, and the prosperity. Hindu people believe that the sun helps to cure many illness and diseases so Sun is also taken as the source of healing too. Sun is also considered as token of stability, prosperity, unity and the progress. Therefore, people worship Sun considering lord who helps to ensure the longevity and the prosperity of family members , friends , beloved ones and Earth. Chhath is also called Dala Chhath.
Celebration of Chhath festival
Chhath is celebrated for four(4) days. The ritual of Chhath festival includes taking holy bath , fasting , standing and worshipping Sun for a long time and offering Prasad and Argha to " Rising and Setting Sun. " Some worshippers observe fasting even without water for 36 hours continuously.
Day 1 - Naha Kha ;
Naha Kha means bath and eat. This is the first day of Chhath Puja. People take a dip, preferably in the holy river near to their resistance and also bring holy water of the river to their home to prepare the offers. During this time the environment of the surrounding is clean and fresh. The devotees take once meal on this day.
 |
| Day 1- Naha Kha |
Day 2 - Kharna / Lohanda ;
This day is the second day and this is a day before Panchami day. In this day people observe fasting ending in the evening after the Sunset . just after the worshipping of sun, the offerings ( Kheer / Rice Pudding ) , bananas and Puris are distributed. There is tradition to observe fasting for next 36 hours even without water.
 |
| Day 2 - Kharna / Lohnda |
Day 3 - Chhath celebration Day ;
This is the very important day among the Chhath festival. The grand celebration of Chhath is done in this day. It is on Kartik Shukala Shashti , this day Sanjhiya offerings ( evening offerings ) is done . Whole day people prepare Prasad at their home . In the evening whole family accompanies the devotee to a riverbank, lake or a common large water body to make the offerings (Aragh) to the setting sun. In Kathmandu, Rani Pokhari is opened for Argha that day. In Janakpur, Argha is offered in Ganga Sagar.
The devotees offer prayers to the setting sun. This is very important part of Chat Puja. In the evening people gather together and perform cultural programs with music and dances. The folk songs sung on the evening of Chhath reflect the culture, social structure, mythology and history of Mithila Pradesh and its vicinity. People sing songs in Maithili, Magadhi, and the Bhojpuri, the three main languages spoken in Terai and Madhesh region of Nepal. There are minor distinctions in celebration and pooja performance among the regions and across families, but basically all celebrate the same festival with same enthusiasm and charm.
Chhath Festival Nepal
 |
| Chhath Celebration Day |
Kosi: The third day night, Kosi is held after the sun set. The lights are lit late in the evening after making offering (Argha) to sun. The lamps are kept under a canopy of five sugarcane ticks. The five sticks signify the human body made of Pancha tatwa described by Ayurveda. (Earth, water, fire, air and ether or sky). This is a symbolic ritual in Chhath Puja, performed especially in those families where marriage or childbirth has taken place recently. The lighted lamps signify the solar energy sustaining the human being.
Day 4 - Paran ;
Bihaniya Aragh is fourth and final day of Chhatt Pooja. Bihaniya Argha means Morning Offering. On Saptami, the final day of Chhath Puja, the devotees, along with their family and friends, go to the riverbank again before sunrise. They make the offerings (Aragh) to the rising sun. The festival ends with the breaking of the fast by the devotee of chhatt parba. Prasad is distributed and gatherings of family and friends ends the celebration.
 |
| Day 4- Paran |
The yogic philosophy of Chhath festival
 |
| Chhath behind the Yogic philosophy |
According to yogic philosophy, the physical bodies of all the living organisms are highly sophisticated energy conducting channels. The solar bio-electricity starts flowing in the human body when it is exposed to solar radiations of specific wavelengths. Under particular physical and mental conditions, the absorption and conduction of this solar-bio-electricity increases.
The processes and the rituals of the Chhath puja aim at preparing the body and the mind of the Vratti (devotee) for the process of cosmic solar energy infusion.
The scientific process similar to Chhath was used by the Rishis of yore for carrying out their austerities without any intake of solid or liquid diet. Using a process similar to the Chhath puja, they were able to absorb the energy needed for sustenance directly from the sun, instead of taking it indirectly through food and water.
The retina is a kind of photoelectric material, which emits subtle energy when exposed to light. Hence, very subtle electric energy starts flowing from the retina. This energy (photo-bio-electricity) is transmitted from the retina to the pineal gland by the optic nerves connecting the retina to the pineal gland, leading to its activation.
The pineal gland is in close proximity with the pituitary and hypothalamus glands (together, three glands are called Triveni) due to which, the energy generated in this process starts impacting these glands. Consequently, the pranic activity becomes uniform, giving the Vratti good health and a calm mind.
Stages of Chhath (Conscious Photoenergization Process)
According to Yoga philosophy, the process of Chhath is divided into six stages of the Conscious Cosmic Solar Energy Infusion Technique (Conscious Photoenergization Process).
Stage 1: Fasting and the discipline of cleanliness leads to detoxification of the body and mind. This stage prepares the body and mind of the Vratti (devotee) to receive the cosmic solar energy.
Stage 2: Standing in a water body with half the body (navel deep) in the water minimizes the leak of energy and helps the prana (psychic energy) to move up the sushumna (psychic channel in the spine).
Stage 3: Cosmic Solar Energy enters the Vratti’s pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus glands (Triveni complex) through the retina and optic nerves.
Stage 4: Activation of Triveni tri-glandular complex (pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus).
Stage 5: A kind of polarization of happens in the spine, which results in the Vratti’s gross and subtle bodies getting transformed into a cosmic powerhouse. This can also lead to the awakening of the latent psychic energy popularly known as the Kundalini Shakti.
Stage 6: The body of the Vratti (devotee) becomes a channel which conducts, recycles and transmits the energy into the entire universe.
👉Thank you for visiting our websites. Don't forget to add your experience on comments.
Tags:
Festival and culture