Chatt Pooja

Chatt pooja is a Hindu festival celebrated especially by Biharis. The event occurs twice a year – once, on the sixth day of ‘Chaitra’ (as per the Hindu lunar month) which falls in the month of March and secondly in ‘Kartik‘, which falls in November or remembered as an occasion a week after Diwali. The word “Chatt” means the number six in Hindi It is, however, not concentrated in Bihar but is equally popular in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and in some northeast regions of India. People in parts of Nepal, particularly in the Terai region, also celebrate this festival.

Other parts of India too do not remain untouched by this festive colour. Biharis migrated from their native place to several parts of the country celebrate them with equal zing. Chatt Pooja has been recognised on national level. Where the Delhi government has sanctioned holiday for this day, Mumbai witness unofficial jam packed beaches.

The Chatt festival is dedicated to the Sun god. It is a belief that people worship Sun and thank Him for bestowing the bounties of life in earth and fulfilling their wishes. It is also a faith that the prayers of the devotees on this occasion are always answered; and the sinners get punished for their any wrong doings. It is celebrated for three-four days. During this occasion, the worshipers, usually women, observe ritual purity. They sleep on the floor on a single blanket or a mat. They pray and fast for the well-being of their family and prosperity. On the eve of this festival, houses are scrupulously cleaned. The worshippers observe a fast from dawn to the dusk. On the occasion, the entire family accompanies the worshiper to a ritual bathing and worship of the Sun god, usually on the bank of a river or a large common water body. The devotees take a holy dip.

Throughout the festival, the food prepared is totally vegetarian, without even onions and garlic. On Chatt, women of the family recite regional folk songs and entertain themselves with the family members. Friends and relatives are invited to the household to share the ‘prashad’ of the ritual.

But the question that eggs up in my mind is whether there any specific scientific reason backing the worship of sun during this period of the year?

Bhai Dooj

Bhai dooj is a Hindu festival which is celebrated two days after Diwali, the festival of lights. Bhai dooj (in Hindi), is known as Bhaubeej in Marathi, Bhai beej in Gujarati, Bhai phota in Bengali. It occurs on a new moon night in Kartik month as per the Hindu calendar. Usually it falls in October/November.

This festival is celebrated by sisters for the well being and long life of their brothers. They offer prayers and good wishes to their brothers. On the day, sisters worship and pray for their brothers. They put an auspicious tilak, made from vermilion or sandalwood paste, on the forehead of their brothers and perform aarti of theirs as a mark of love and protection from evil forces. If the sister is elder, brother touches her feet and she blesses her brother with rice grains and dubya grass. It is a belief that anyone who receives a tilak from his sister on this day is saved the agony of evils or hell-fire.

Sisiters prepare sumptuous, mouth-watering food including sweets for brothers on Bhai dooj day. In return, brothers offer gifts to their sisters expressing their love on the occasion. Brothers also pledges protection and support to their sisters on the day. On Bhai dooj after the rituals, the family members engage into singing songs, play games and other entertainment that is enjoyed by all.

As per the Hindu mythology, on Bhai dooj day Yamraj, the Lord of Death, visits his sister Yami. She welcomed him warmly and cordially by applying a tilak on his forehead. She prays for his brother’s well being and long life. The festival is celebrated mostly in the northern India.

But now it is being celebrated all over India including , , , . Hindus living in other parts of the world also celebrate this occasion which enhances the bond of love between sisters and brothers.

Diwali

Diwali is one of the major Indian festivals celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains and infact all creeds of people. Known as the festival of lights, Diwali is observed on the new moon day of Kartika, as per the Hindu calendar that falls in the months of October and November. The celebrations commence two days prior and ends two days later than this religiously fixed date. Diwali, colloquially called Deepawali, is celebrated exactly 20 days after Dussehra. In 2007, the festival is celebrated on November 9.

People celebrate Diwali by decorating their homes with lights, fireworks, gift-giving, worship, prayers and religious rituals. On the occasion, people purchase gold, gifts and household appliances. People distribute food and sweets as acts of charity during the festival. Companies offer huge discounts on products during Diwali to attract customers. Business communities start their financial year on Diwali and open new account books on this day. Offices and schools remain closed on this day.

The belief is that the Diwali festival marks the victory of good over evil. As per the Hindu mythology, on this day Lord Rama came back from exile and the people of Ayodhya lit lamps to welcome him back home. Hindus also worship Vishnu and Laxmi on the Diwali day. In Jainism, it marks the nirvana of Lord Mahavira, which occurred on Oct. 15, 527 B.C. Jains observe fast and chant the Uttaradhyayan Sutra, which contain the final pravachans of Lord Mahavira. Jains distributes Laddus and sweets in temples during the occasion.

Diwali is celebrated not only in India but all over the world where Hindus, Sikhs and Jains are staying. The festival is celebrated in countries like the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand, Suriname, Canada, Guyana, Myanmar, Nepal, Mauritius, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Australia, much of Africa and the United States.

The major concern that this festival draws attention to is the issue of massive air and sound pollution that occurs with bursting crackers. Certain category of crackers have, however, been banned on certain parameters of social and environmental health, but it could not be implemented to full action.

No law can curb this problem until people are willingly conscious about it and generate self awareness, isn’t it?

Durga Pooja

Now Durga Pooja is very much near so its urgently required to put more details of pooja date, pooja process, regional values etc. Also we should start for diwali...

‘Durga Pooja’, the words that runs a thrill in every heart and body of a Bengali is the immensely cherished occasion much awaited throughout the year. Though the essence of this auspicious festival starts from the eastern part of the country (West Bengal), it spreads across every region and religion binding them with a common fervor of celebration.

According to the lunar movements in Hindu Bengali calendar, Durga pooja falls in the autumn months of September/ October. Though the preparations like buying new clothes and setting up and decoration of pandals starts a month ago or before, the celebration mood commences with the Mahalaya, seven days before the main pooja. Mahalaya is the heralding note for the homecoming of Ma Durga as the air gets heavy with the soothing fragrance of shefali flowers and river banks covered with milky white kash grasses.

There are various mythical and religious stories backing the reason for Durga Pooja. Where on one hand it is said that the Adda Shakti was invoked by the trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara to rescue heaven and Gods from the atrocities of demon Mahisasura and so is one of the names of Durga ‘Mahisasura Mardini.’ The other states that it was the time when God Rama invoked her to seek blessings to win over Ravana and is called ‘Akalbodhon’. ;so termed because it is believed to be an uncustomary time of her appearance on earth as conventionally spring is the right time to worship the Goddess, when it is known as Basanti pooja. Tradition also speaks that shorod (autumn) is the time when Ma Durga comes to her father, Himalaya’s abode along with her sons Ganesha and Kartikeya and daughters Laxmi and Saraswati.

Be that as it may but the motif is to rejoice, bask in the culture, spirituality and ultimately ‘eat, drink and be merry’. The four days viz. saptami, ashtami, navami and dashami are enjoyed with utmost zeal and verve. Relatives and friends gather and a feeling of togetherness warm up the atmosphere. Wearing that exclusive dress each day, visiting every pandal to see the idols and partying till the wee hours of night revives all that zing in life which people tends to loose in their daily chores.

The last day of the event is Bijoy Dashami or Dusshera. Married women prepare special sweet dishes for their beloved Mother like naru, takti etc, offers it to her and smear other women with vermillion. The day ends with Visarjan i.e. immersing the idol in river or pond which, however, starts with an enthusiastic possession of the idol till the river bank but bidding adieu leaves behind a sense of emotional loss in everyone with the only hope that our Ma will return again the next year with all her blessings and love.

Navratra: A Glimpse of Indian Culture

Navratra is celebrated each year and the name signifies ‘nine days’ of the festival. This story begins with fifteen years of Lord Ram’s exile that ends up with a war with Ravana. It is believed that this war lasted for nine days and on the tenth day of war, Ram won by killing Ravana. On Dussehra, huge models of Ravana are exploded with fire crackers. People start reading Ramayana with the aim of completing it in nine days.

It is believed that celebration of Navratra is of symbolic importance as it is considered to be a celebration of good over evil. During Navratra days, people perform a special dance known as ‘Garbha’. It is popular folk dance of Gujarat. The ethnic dress code in Garba is chania choli for females and male’s dress code is dhoti-kurta. This garba dance in done through out Navratra days. The other form of folk dance that is played during this festive day is Dandia or stick dance. Dandia dance is done holding sticks in hand and these sticks are used in a rhythmic manner.

Thus, Navratra is a pious and sacred nine days festival where people spend days in devotion and religious activities.