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President Ram Chandra Paudel has conveyed his conviction that the Chhath festival will foster national unity among the Nepali people. 

In a message of greetings issued today for Chhath Festival–2082 BS, he remarked, "I am confident that this festival will motivate the elimination of all forms of discrimination, bias, and inequality, including those related to class, ethnicity, and gender, thus enhancing national unity among all Nepalis, while also preserving and promoting indigenous culture and reinforcing mutual harmony." 

President Paudel further noted that the Chhath festival will play a significant role in achieving sustainable peace, good governance, development, and prosperity. 

The festival of Chhath is celebrated with great reverence for the sun, water, and earth, involving the worship of the Chhathi goddess, performing rituals, and fasting, while vigilantly staying awake overnight along the banks of rivers, ponds, and lakes in a festive and joyful manner. 

It is believed that fulfilling the Chhath fast correctly yields desired outcomes, enhances family well-being, and alleviates personal sorrows and troubles, ushering in auspiciousness. 

President Paudel emphasized, "Recognizing that life on Earth is dependent on the sun, dedicating oneself both physically and mentally to remain at locations where water flows from the fourth to the seventh day of the bright fortnight of Kartik, offering milk to the rising and setting sun, and engaging in worship during this festival appears to assist individuals in fulfilling their responsibilities towards nature, fostering environmental awareness, as well as promoting family and social unity.

Preparations for Chhath festival are going on in full swing in various places of Kathmandu. Construction of Chhath ghat is also underway in Kamalpokhari.

Chhath festival, which is mainly celebrated in Tarai, is now being celebrated by a large number of people in the Kathmandu Valley.

During this festival, ghats are prepared by decorating the banks of rivers, lakes, and ponds.

As a major part of the festival, the setting sun is worshiped by offering argha while the same process is followed to worship the rising sun to bring the festival to an end.

Revelers observe a fast and stay awake all night and offer prayers to the rising sun.

It is widely believed that observing a fast in obeisance of Chhathi goddess will bring desired results and well-being for the family and all of their sorrows and troubles will vanish away.

Jivesh Jha’s ‘Beneath the Sun: Equality for Everyone, The Spirit of Chhath Festival’ presents an in-depth exploration of the magnificent Chhath festival, a vibrant and sacred celebration cherished in Nepal and India.

With a remarkable insight, Jha delves into the festival’s rich rituals, the deep values it upholds, and its multi-faceted significance. The Chhath festival honours the Sun God and his divine consort, Shasti Devi, also known as Chhathi Maiya, who is revered as the consort of Sun God in the Vedic tradition, where Usha, the Sun God’s wife, is identified as Chhathi Maiya.

Jha effectively introduces Chhatha as a unique Vedic festival, celebrated primarily in Nepal’s Tarai-Madhesh and in India’s Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand for centuries. He discusses the festivity, which spans four days and is dedicated to the Sun God and his wife Usha. The devotees observe rigorous fasting and offer prayers to the setting and rising sun. Jha emphasizes that the proximity to water connects devotees with the divine. He believes that the festival is celebrated by the devotees with great zeal and enthusiasm, driven by a strong belief that the benevolent Sun will bless their families with success and prosperity.

Published in October 2024, the book brings together a collection of six chapters that provide a compelling exploration of the Chhath festival, going beyond its religious significance to highlight its social, environmental and cultural dimensions. The book begins with a Foreword where a noted literary figure, Dhirendra Premarshi, discusses about the book’s exceptional explorations in short and argues, “Chhath aims to promote biodiversity and stands as one of Mithila's most significant welfare-oriented festivals, emphasizing scientific values and humanity. Jivesh Jha's current outstanding work explores the multifaceted welfare aspects of the Chhath festival.”

In addition, the book features a brief introduction by Anil Dixit, a professor of Law at Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India, in which he argues that the festival advocates for equity, environmental conservation and fraternity. Prof Dixit also believes that Jha’s book effectively elaborates on the multi-dimensional significance of this grand festival.   

Author Jha argues that Chhath is more than a festival; it is a testament to the rich cultural heritage, religious devotion and social cohesion of its people. He argues that the festival promotes values of discipline, devotion and environmental stewardship, while celebrating a shared cultural heritage that binds communities together.

Jha believes that Chhath continues to hold immense significance, symbolizing reverence for nature and gratitude toward the life-sustaining Sun God, Surya, making it an integral part of Nepal's and India's cultural fabric.

The first chapter introduces Chhath, discussing its celebration, timing, and the deity honored during the festival. The second chapter explores references to Chhath in scriptures. The third chapter details the rituals, offerings, like Thekuwa, Bhuswa and the fruits, and preparations involved, such as setting up the Ghat, cleaning water bodies, observing rigorous fasting for over 36 hours, singing folk songs, and offering prayers to the setting and rising sun while standing in waters.

The fourth chapter examines the values associated with the festival, including its messages on environmental conservation, equality, fraternity, the ultimate goals of rituals and its broader impact on humanity. The fifth chapter focuses on the economic aspects, highlighting how artisans making pottery and bamboo baskets, as well as farmers and vendors, earn significant income by selling their goods and services during Chhath. Jha believes that the use of potteries and baskets made from bamboo in the festival provides an opportunity to protect and promote traditional knowledge.   

Finally, the book concludes with a meaningful summary. Acknowledging the festival's profound cultural significance, the book stands as a testament to the power of rich cultural traditions in fostering social harmony and environmental stewardship. Jha’s book on the Chhath festival is a work of meticulous research, offering a detailed account of the festival and its deep significance in promoting agriculture, an organic lifestyle, environmental conservation and social harmony.

(Nepali is a section officer at the Rajbiraj high court)

Chhath is a unique Hindu Vedic festival being observed in India and Nepal since ancient times. Dedicated to the Sun God and his wife Usha, also known as Chhathi Maiya, Chhath is celebrated over four days.  During the festival, devotees observe rigorous fasting and offer prayers to the setting and rising sun. It is believed that being close to water connects devotees with the divine, and the benevolent Sun God blesses their families.

Chhath Puja is among the most widely celebrated festivals in Nepal. It typically begins six days after Deepawali, the festival of lights. The word "Chhath" means six. In ancient Prakrit, "Chhath" translates into sixth, reflecting that this festival is celebrated twice a year on the sixth lunar day of the Chaitra and Kartik months of the Hindu calendar.

The Rituals

In general, it is believed that Chhath Puja begins with Nahay Khay, but this is only partially true. The Puja actually commences with “Machh-Maruwa Barnai” — a vow taken a day before Nahay Khay to refrain from consuming onion, garlic, and non-vegetarian foods. On this day, devotees bathe, offer prayers to the Sun God, and then eat food prepared in their own kitchens, as consuming food bought from hotels or markets is considered unholy.

Kharna is observed on the second day. Devotees fast until the evening, when the Kharna rituals are completed. Kheer (a rice and milk pudding sweetened with jaggery) and puri are offered to the deity and shared among family members after sunset. Throughout the Chhath festival, the offerings are traditionally prepared on an earthen stove, or chulha, using mango wood whenever possible.

Evening and Morning Offerings

The third day is known as Sandhya Arghya (evening offering), also called Pahila Arghya (the first offering). This is considered the most challenging day for devotees, most of whom are women. They observe a strict fast, abstaining from both food and water. 

In the evening, devotees take ritualistic dips in neighborhood ponds or rivers which continue until sunset. They offer prayers to the Sun God with fruits and prasad prepared in their own but separate kitchen. These offerings include items like Thakuwa, Bhuswa, Khaja and Mithae, and fruits such as oro blanco grapefruit, sugarcane and bananas.

On Usha Arghya (the morning offering) on the fourth day, devotees break their fast after offering prayers to the rising Sun. They take dip in the water and present all the prasad to the Sun God once again.

An intriguing aspect of Chhath Puja is the dual worship of Usha and Pratyusha, who are both considered consorts of Surya, the Sun God. Usha, symbolizing the first ray of the morning sun, plays a key role in the concluding rituals, while Pratyusha, representing the last ray of the day, is revered during the evening. This dual worship is believed to symbolize the transformative power of the solar cycle and the cyclical nature of life.

Festival of Equality and Cleanliness   

Primarily observed by women, this festival requires neither male priests nor the recitation of mantras to perform the Puja. It is open to all, regardless of gender, caste, or economic status, with nearly identical offerings for everyone. Emphasizing the cleanliness of riverbanks, ponds, and water bodies, the festival fosters equality and fraternity among devotees. In essence, it celebrates cleanliness, equality, and community spirit.

Dedication  

Chhath is a devout offering for the well-being of family members, highlighting the sacrifices that women make for the longevity of their husbands and the prosperity of their families. The festival embodies ancient traditions passed down through generations. Its rituals stress purity and discipline, bringing families together to perform ceremonies that strengthen unity and community spirit. Beyond its religious significance as an expression of gratitude to the Sun God for sustaining life, Chhath promotes values of prosperity, health and longevity for families.

Social Harmony   

The festival transcends religious boundaries and unites people across caste, creed and social status, fostering harmony and mutual respect. Rituals emphasize environmental conservation, such as bathing in natural water bodies at sunrise and sunset, symbolizing purification of the body and soul and underscoring the importance of ecological balance.

More than just a festival, Chhath is a testament to cultural heritage, religious devotion and social cohesion. It promotes values of discipline, devotion, and environmental stewardship, while celebrating a shared heritage that binds communities. Chhath remains deeply significant, symbolizing reverence for nature and gratitude to the life-sustaining Sun God, Surya, making it an integral part of cultural tapestry in Nepal and India.

Lessons to Learn   

The festival advocates an eco-friendly approach, reflected in devotees’ efforts in prepare the Ghats and maintaining the cleanliness of water, soil and a pollution-free atmosphere. 

Chhath promotes equality, fraternity and social harmony. Meanwhile, the rigorous fast of more than 36 hours undertaken by women devotees reflects their deep familial devotion, prioritizing the well-being of their loved ones.

If we succeed in maintaining a pollution-free environment, a society free from violence against women, and an equal society without discrimination, only then can we truly honor the messages of the Chhath festival.

Jivesh Jha is the author of Beneath the Sun: Equality for everyone, The Spirit of Chhath Festival (2024)   

Bananas worth Rs 50 million have been imported to Janakpurdham, the capital of Madesh, from India for the near-coming Chhath festival.

Banana is considered a must fruit for the people observing the festival, especially for those fasting on the occasion.

President of Janakpur Fruits and Vegetables Traders Committee, Bishweshwar Yadav said since bananas are offered to God as an argha during the Chhath festival, the demand for the fruit is high. Since, the local produce is not enough there is a compulsion to import from neighboring India.

He shared that last year bananas worth more than Rs 40 million had been imported, which increased to Rs 50 million this year.

Various varieties of bananas are imported to Janakpurdham from Assam, West Bengal, Hajipur, Thakurganj and Champaran, said Bhuvneshwar Purve, Secretary of Fruit and Vegetable Traders Committee. The price of bananas has increased by 20 percent this year compared to the previous year. Bananas are being sold at a price ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1, 000 per spike.

Traders say that even though there is a lot of potential for banana production in Nepal the local production does not meet the demand. In addition, the price of bananas coming from India is cheaper than bananas produced in the country so in the border areas they are imported from India.

The people from Dom community are busy making bamboo baskets for the approaching Chhath festival in the district.

The community is swamped with the activities to produce varieties of bamboo baskets such as doko, dalo and nanglo which are consumed much during the Chhath, celebrated in Tarai with much fanfare and devotion, immediately after the Tihar.

Making bamboo items is an inherited skill and knowledge of our community, said Bhogindra Dom from Jaleshwor municipality-2. "We manage our food, shelter and clothes by selling wicker baskets of various kinds," he added.

The traditional homemade items are in high demand during the festival. The earning also helps the Dalit community celebrate festivals in a relative comfort.

Jaleshwor, Matihani, Pipara, Aurahi, Gaushala, Sonama, Ram Gopalpur, Yekdara, Manral of the district have Dom settlements.

A 70-year-old Bechani Dom from Manrasiswa Municipality-1, said, "We are swamped with the activities to weave cleft slices of bamboo for dalo, nanglo, talu and tapari when the month Kattik begins. From early morning to late evening, we're immersed."

She further said it was a good opportunity for them to make money. The wicker baskets are used to carry fruits to offer to the Sun God during the Chhath festival in Tarai.

Every house buys at least five such wicker baskets for the festival purpose.

Bikau Dom from Pipara-1 informed that even the Dom people believe that the Sun God and Chhathi Mata arrive at their doorsteps with the onset of the festival. The traditional bamboo items are prepared for devotees.

Bijay Dom from Sonam Rural Municipality-3 shared that a Dom household earns as high as Rs 100 thousand by selling the bamboo trays and baskets in a month.

As the number of people celebrating the Chhath festival has increased in Tarai/Madhes in recent years, demand for such goods also peaked.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed the hope that the Chhath festival will inspire all of us to embrace the values of good governance, prosperity and social justice.

Extending his best wishes to the entire Nepali sisters and brothers on the occasion of the Chhath, the Prime Minister hoped that the festival would contribute to further strengthening national unity, mutual trust and ties, empowering us to overcome prevailing challenges in the country.  

"The festivals celebrated in Nepali society carry a historic significance and background, and serve as the foundation for human civilization and development," the head of the government said on the occasion of the festival dedicated to the Sun god.

Stating that this festival is established as the festival forging a lively practical connection between nature and human life, he said it played an important role in terms of respect and preservation of goods useful in human life and also for the development of a culture of production and work.

The PM said although small in terms of territory and area, Nepal is big and prosperous in terms of diversity of languages, cultures, festivals, costumes and civilization.

The Prime Minister stated that our culture, rituals and historic facts very much vindicated to the richness of our cultural diversity, adding the Constitution of Nepal has adopted the unity with diversity as the national dignity, internalizing the multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic, multi-cultural and regional uniqueness of Nepali society.

Prime Minister Dahal expressed the belief that the Chhath festival inspired us all towards fulfilling the national mission of prosperity by converting the challenges into opportunity, infusing hope in the people's and social life and coalescing unity in the nation.

Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that all festivals of the country are the heritage of our social relations and cultural harmony.

In a message of best wishes on the occasion of Chhath festival, he said that festivals help to develop a spirit of collectivism and help to build the foundation of unity and harmony.

Extending his best wishes for happiness, peace, prosperity and success to all on the occasion of this festival, Deuba said that Nepal is a country with diverse festivals, religious and cultural traditions and with a harmonious tradition of respecting and honoring one another's religious and cultural traditions.

Leader Deuba has also wished that the Chhath festival may inspire all everyone to promote social harmony by creating an atmosphere of happiness, peace and prosperity.

Bananas worth Rs 40 million have been imported from India in Janakpurdham, the capital of Madhes province, alone for the Chhath festival.

Banana is a must-have fruit for performing the various rituals associated with the Chhath festival. The people observing the Chhath fasting make an offering of a single banana comb to the Sun god.

The demand for bananas is high during the Chhath and the supply is not enough to meet this demand and hence bananas have to be imported every year, said Bishweshwar Yadav, president of Janakpur Fruits and Vegetables Traders' Committee.

According to him, although the soil in the Tarai-Madhes of Nepal is good for banana cultivation, the local production is not enough to meet the growing demand every year.

"Last year, bananas worth 17.5 million were imported in Janakpur. This year, nearly 70 truckloads of bananas have entered the provincial capital," he said.

The Gopal and Bansibhog varieties of banana have been brought to Janakpur from Bhardaha, Bhantabari and Inaruwa of Saptari district of Nepal while the Malbhog, Mirichman, Chini Champa varieties of banana have been imported from Assam, Guwahati, Bangal, Hazipur, Thakurgunj and Champaran of India, said Bhuwaneshwar Purbe, the Committee Secretary.

He said that the price of bananas has increased by 25 percent amidst Chhath this year compared to the last year.  "The demand for bananas has been growing as the number of people observing the Chhath festival increases every year. This year, 15 to 20 more trucks of bananas have been imported as compared to the previous year to meet the demand," he said.

Yadav, the Committee president, said there are 1,200 combs of bananas loaded in a truck having 10 wheels.  The transportation cost per truck up to Janakpur is Rs 600,000.

Each banana comb is sold in the range of Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 in the market.

The local varieties of banana are grown in every place in Nepal. Some of the popular varieties grown in Nepal are the Malbhog, Jhapali Malbhog, and William hybrid robusta, among others.

The banana traders and cultivators say that although there is immense prospect for banana farming, banana production has not increased in the country due to technical problems.