Chhath Puja or Chhathi Maiya puja, the historic and archaic festival is celebrated in the North-Indian states of India. This festival is triumphed with great sovereignty and ebullience and is dedicated to the visible God Sun and his beloved wife known as Chhathi Maiyya. Chhath Puja signifies the worship of the Sun who is the only source of all the energies available in the universe. Hence, Chhath puja indicates the worship of the energy or Shakti of the Sun, Shakti which is a feminine hence called as Chhathi Maiya. The Sun is supposed to be the source of Aadi Shakti. This Energy of Sun controls the whole universe every planet every particle revolves around this Shakti Or Energy of The Sun.
Mythological Stories Related To Chhath Puja
According to Mahabharata, Karna the son of Lord Surya or Devi Kunti used to worship him (Lord Sun) every day while dipped in water. The Chhath Puja is celebrated to mark the day when Karna last prays to Lord Surya before going to Kurukshetra and never return again. Hence the population of Bihar worships the Lord Sun and his beloved wife Usha Maiyya or Chhathi Maiya to give tribute to their Kind Ruler Karna.
One another legend which depicts the celebration of Chhath Parva is Draupadi and the Pandavas of Hastinapur worshipped lord sun for solving their problems and regaining their lost kingdom.
Some people associate the celebration of Chhath puja with Ramayana. It is considered that Lord Rama (descendant of Lord Surya) observed fast with his dear wife Sita after returning from exile of 14 years and broke down the fast next sunrise which later evolved as the traditional festival of chatt puja.
On the occasion of Chhath Puja, Lord Sun popularly called as Surya Devta is worshipped with utmost faith and devotion. As stated in Rigveda, the rituals performed by rishis (saints) are very much similar to that conducted in Chhath puja. Saint for a considerable time didn’t use to have food and dependent on Sun for the energy needed. During Chhath puja, people observe fast without drinking water and having food and offer prayers to Surya Devta.
The biggest festival of Chhath puja has its roots in the past and is a festival of showing gratitude to Lord Sun for continuing life on earth. The four-day festival ends by offering Argha to lord sun by standing in knee deep water in the river at the dawn on the Saptami tithi in order to get bestowed with happiness, longevity, and parenthood as Devi Shasthi blesses the couple with a child if prayed with purity of mind and soul.