Discover The Many Colours and Flavours of Chhat Puja

With thousands of devotees swarming in to pay their reverence to the Sun God, Chhat is the most revered and pious festival of Bihar. It speaks highly of the deep rooted folk culture and heritage of the state. The word Chhath denotes the number six as it commences on the sixth day from Amavasya (Diwali). Devoted to the Sun God, Chhat requires an arduous observance of fast without water for more than 24 hours. The Parvaitin (one who observes the parv/puja) follows a period of abstinence and segregation from the main household for two days and is also supposed to carry the ritual of bathing in the holy water of Ganges only.

Nahaye-Khaye - On the first day of Chhat, the parvaitin takes the holy bath and cooks a proper meal sans onion and garlic. Her fast begins after the meal and is only broken on the next evening.

Kharna - On the second day of the festival, the parvaitin cooks the prasad on her own that includes kheer and chapattis. She breaks her fast with this prasad and the leftovers are distributed as the most pious prasad of Chhati maiyya.

Pehla Arghya - The two day fast begins, on the third day of the puja. The parvaitin along with the devotees, walk to the Ghats to offer Arghya to the setting sun. The Arghya is an offering of milk and gangajal and is considered to be amrit. When I said that compliance of Chhat is arduous, I was not just referring to the fasts. Since Chhat is celebrated in winters, it is mighty difficult for the parvaitins and devotees alike to stand waist deep in the chilly waters of the river and offer Arghya. It is believed that one who observes Chhat must not wear anything stitched. Hence, most parvaitins (brave they must be) just drape a sari around them!

Doosra Arghya - The journey towards the Ghats begins again early morning on the fourth day. Personally, my favourite part of the festival (except for the part where we get prasad, of course!), where the sky is still mahogany black and millions of diyas and fireworks enlighten the Ghats; the sight is nothing less than a magical procession. Truly, one can only witness the event to understand and feel the sheer piety and beauty of this festival. The entire Ghat is decorated with terracotta lamps and canopies of sugar-cane stalks where the devotees keep their soops (baskets). Each soop consists of the Chhat prasad that includes   and the first crop of the season. The morning Arghya is offered again to the rising sun with hymns and folk songs, praying to the Sun god to ward off evil and dark spirits and enlighten the world with sanctity and goodness.

While the rituals are pious and interesting, there are numerous fascinating things about this festival. On your way to the Ghats, you will most likely get a chance to see some devotees who do not walk on foot! Yes, there are some who roll on their backs all the way from their house to the Ghats (which can be several kilometres)! Another bemusing site is to see really old women observe the puja and be absolutely fine even after plunging waist deep in the chilly river. But most enthralling is the ambience that is created during the four days of the festival. The roads are flamboyantly decorated with stalls of food and toys on their sides, women with vermillion down till their nose never seem to stop chanting the Chhat folk songs, children and men alike drowned in the fervour of the festivity- Chhat Puja is not just a festival, it’s a carnival of joy and love blended with devotion and holiness that brings families and friends together.

To reach Patna, you can take a flight, train or a bus. MakeMyTrip also offers several holiday packages to Patna.