What comes to your mind when you hear the word "Chhath"?
Let me tell you what this one word means to millions of us.
The early winter, when fog just starts to settle in the silent night and cold morning, the aroma of the air mixed with smoke from wood coal, desi ghee, and winter flowers make it so addictive that from the far away one can feel it. The preparation for Chhath starts from Diwali or one can say Diwali never gets over till it reaches to the banks (Ghats) of Ganges (Ganga)1. However, our counting of days starts from Vijyadasmhi (विजयादशमी)2, the day we see off mother to her home in Ganga and come back with the thought that we will see her again at these Ghats.
After six days from Diwali, the mother of all festivals starts for us. It's very natural for all of us to stockpile Diwali firecrackers for Chhath, and show off our ammunition in those nights and days. The flickering lights and decoration on walls stay for days till we consume all Thakua/Thekua (the iconic sweets made with wheat flour, sugar, ghee, dry fruits and lots of love)3.
Apart from other festivals, Chhath is really special for children, where they have to wait patiently for four days watching all the preparation but can't touch anything till it is offered to Sun (Bhagwan Surya) and Mother nature (Chhathi Maiya). Our mothers and anyone willing to be part of the preparation have to observe fast and maintain Shatvik practices, however, we as kids have to test our patience. Something like waiting in front of a sweet shop, doing all necessary chores to be there and watch with hope that these days may pass faster as we look at them. Whatever the age of persons at homes, during these days mothers are the supreme leader, nothing can be moved and touched without their permission, if one dares to do that, then a person has to go through all the importance of purity (Shativikta) and guilt of spoiling the festival.
The first day as we call it Nahay Khay and as the name suggests everyone has to Eat only after taking a Bath. The speciality of the day is the food, bottle gourd (Lauki) without much of spices, boiled rice, and, gram (Chana) daal cooked over woods in an earthen pot or bronze vessel. I can bet on this recipe, it can't be replicated in any restaurant, the simplicity of the food makes it so delicious that one can't hold self for overeating. Anyway, this is just the beginning of truckload of work ahead. In the coming four days, none can be jobless, the entire environment, almost every household is somehow involved in this festival.
The preparation involves buying fruits for three days offering, preparing thakuas for all the dalas/saup (bamboo baskets) 4 5 from freshly washed, sun-dried and grounded wheat, laddoos from rice flour (same way), and materials for puja (worship of Chhathi Maiya). As a kid, the most important work we get is observing everything without touching, we have to be ready early (the bath is compulsory, if lucky then you will get hot water otherwise, it will turn hot after touching your body). We used to be a silent task-force who help in everything without disturbing the decorum with the hope that the first and largest share of thakua will be given afterwards.
The second day called as Kharna and Lohanda, from this day fasting starts. The devotees keep Nirjala vrat (without food and water) till evening when the first Pooja starts. They eat prasad in the night which is being offered to the deities (usually non-salt items, like Kheer, Puri, sweets, and, fruits). This meal will give them the divine energy for the upcoming days of Nirjala vrat.
The third day, Sajhka Arak (Sandhya Arghya: the evening prayer) from Kharna, days of preparation starts and goes till the evening of next day for some family it goes whole night (no. of thakuas (X 5 or 10) = no. of dala = no. of family members). In these days every street is filled with the aroma of ghee, wheat flour and fried dry fruits. It does not matter how affluent a family is, every home prepare them with the same enthusiasm. As the evening progress, the Chhath songs (it plays continuously from Nahay Khay) and sound of crackers turn louder.
People from all walk of life start taking dalas on their heads (only job men are entitled to do) and walk towards Ghats with beelines of females and kids dressed up in new clothes. However, for the sake of convenience and avoiding the crowd of thousands, most of us prefer to do pooja in the home. Either a permanent or makeshift Ghat (a small pit) is usually made in open and decorated with banana trees and sugarcane branches. Those who are observing fast can offer to Sandhya Surya (setting Sun) while standing in waist-deep water and rest can finish the offering with Gangajal and milk. Then done for the day, hordes all the stuff back home and keep in the cleanest place (Pooja ghar) for the next morning. This night seems the longest night for the one observing fast and likes of us who are waiting for thakuas.
Finally, fourth Day Bhorka Arak (Pratha Arghya: the morning prayer), the most significant day, when no one puts alarm for the morning as the sound of crackers and Chhath songs will definitely tell "it is time to wake up". We used to get up as early as 4:00 AM, however, waking is not the bravest thing it is to take bath when hot water is the most prized procession. However, as people say and feel groundwater is hot early in the morning, so water from hand pumps, wells and river is the best solution in villages rather heating water. So trying to be bravest, we turn quickest and in seconds finish the morning routine and become ready for the pooja.
Whatever we do, we can't beat mothers in this, they are the earliest birds and night owls. Before we start anything, the dalas are rearranged, thakuas with rest of others are replaced and everything is renewed. As the procession of dalas move to Ghats, everyone takes their job seriously so do we? The Ghari Ghant (the temple bell made up of bronze) and Shankh (the conch shell) are our departments and we keep them as a prize possession. As the mother starts morning pooja towards the rising sun while standing in waist-deep water, we line up to finish this with arka (arghya) of Gangajal and milk. After all the dalas, final offering happens and then devotees come out of the water while thanking Bhagwan Surya and Chhati Maiya for the success of the festival and well-being of all the family members. We start playing ghari ghants and Shankh more like being break free from untouchability restriction rather a celebration of the festival.
Now, after a day-long and more than 36 hours continuous fast (Nirjala Vrat) devotees are allowed to break the fast with prasad. In our homes, the first thing we do search for prasad from Ghats and get our Baddhi (the sacred thread to wear in the neck) from mother then go for Thakuas. This is a kind of feast where everyone and every house is celebrating.
Chhath is not like any other festivals which one can celebrate individually, it is like an emotion of togetherness, a feeling of being with nature, a culture of bringing everyone in the family, friends, and society together. Whenever one gets a chance to visit or observe Chhath then must go there, and those who know this shouldn't be missing this.
Chhath Parv ki Hardik Shubhkamanaye.
Wish you all a prosperous and memorable Chhath Festival.
-rituraj
