Chhath Parva through lens

Chhath Parva, the festival dedicated to Sun God is one of the major festivals of the Madhesi community. Usually falling on the sixth day of Bhai Tika, the festival is celebrated with devotion, worship and lights. The festival is celebrated around a pond or on the banks of the rivers. This festival lasting for four days demands strict fasting from the devotees and not everyone can keep it up. The first two days focuses on the preparation and fasting while the second two days are the days of actual worship. On the third day, the setting sun is worshiped and the festival ends on the fourth day after the worship of the rising sun. Various offerings are made to please the god and it is believed that one can have their wishes fulfilled if they keep the fast with dedication. Although the festival is largely celebrated by the Madhesi communities, these days, people from other communities, too, participate in the puja, one way or the other. Here are some pictures of Chhath puja:

Devotees worshiping the setting sun. This process is known as Argha dinu.

Devotees worshiping the setting sun. This process is known as Argha dinu.



 

Offerings made to the sun god in Chhath.

Offerings made to the sun god in Chhath.

 

Offering arranged during the Chhath Puja.

Offering arranged during the Chhath Puja.

 

Chhath puja is performed on the beautifully decorated booths around the pond or at the bank of the rivers.

Chhath puja is performed on the beautifully decorated booths around the pond or at the bank of the rivers.

 

Devotees worshiping the god by submerging themselves in the pond. Those who keep fast are to stay in that way until the prayer is over. It is done for the setting and the rising sun. Those who do not have fast cannot go into the river while the puja is being performed.

Devotees worshiping the god by submerging themselves in the pond. Those who keep fast are to stay in that way until the prayer is over. It is done for the setting and the rising sun. Those who do not have fast cannot go into the river while the puja is being performed.