Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Chhath Puja Celebration in India

"Chaiti Festival" or "Rayagada Mahotsav" is the official annual mass cultural festival of Rayagada district, India. It is one among the major tourist attractions in the district.

Chhath  is an ancient Hindu festival of Nepalese and Indian people and is the only Vedic Festival dedicated to the Hindu Sun God, Surya and Chhathi Maiya (ancient Vedic Goddess Usha). The Chhath Puja is performed in order to thank Surya for sustaining life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes.

The Sun, considered as the god of energy and of the life-force, is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. In Hinduism, Sun worship is believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and helps ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders.


The rituals of the festival are rigorous and are observed over a period of four days. They include holy bathing, and wear new clothes,  fasting and abstaining from drinking water (Vratta), standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prashad (prayer offerings) and arghya to the setting and rising sun.



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