Assignment Number – 01

“Essay on Human Beings and Environment in Indian Tradition in

the Context of Chhath Puja”

Course Code: SWRK4025

Submitted
By

Amit Kumar
Department of Interventional Social Work
Roll Number-MGCU2017SWRK4001

Submitted to

Digvijoy Phukan, Phd

Assistant Professor
Mahatma Gandhi Central University
Motihari, Bihar
Introduction
India is a land of many festivals. There are some festivals as ancient as India. Chhath Puja is one
of the most important ancient festival devoted to worshipping the God “Sun, Chhathi Maiya and
Usha- the wife of Sun God”, mostly celebrated in Bihar state of India and somewhere in Nepal.
As per the many environmentalists, the Chhath Puja is most ecofriendly festival having zero bad
effect on environment. This festival is completely based on nature as all needed rituals things
used are obtained naturally. Lord Ravi's adoration and Maha Parve of Public Faith gives a
message of clean environment, but not only clean ritual. From the streets of the village to the
chowk of the city - to the intersections, Chhath's shadow is seen with nature.

Origin and History of Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja had a great significance among the Hindus since ancient times. It is said that Rajas
called upon the Purohits to perform the customary puja of the Sun God. Hymns were recited
from the Vedas for worshipping the Sun God. Many believe that Chhat Puja was started by the
Surya Putra Karna, the great Mahabharata warrior who ruled over the Anga Desh (parts of
Bihar). The festival was also observed by the Pandavas and Draupadi for regaining their lost
kingdom. (Piyush, 2016)

Worship of Chhath Maiya, the consort of the Sun God, is also done at Chhath Puja. The Goddess
Chhath Maiya is known as Usha in the Vedas. It means the first light of the day. People offer
their prayers to Chhath Maiya for getting her blessings. It is said that Chhath Maiya grants
happiness and prosperity to the devotees.

According to ancient texts, Rama and his wife Sita had kept fast and offered prayers to the Sun
god, in the month of Kartika in Shukla Paksh, once they returned to the Ayodhya after 14 years
of exile. From then on, the Chhath Puja became a significant and traditional Hindu festival,
which is celebrated with zeal and zest every year. (Lifestyle Desk, 2017).

According to a legend in the legendary stories about Chhath's fast, when Pandavas lost their
entire palace in gambling, Draupadi kept Chhath fast. Then their wish was fulfilled and the
Pandavas got back the palace.

Chhath Puja Rituals and Traditions

As the Mahaparv Chath, the people's faith is important from the religious and spiritual vision, the
common people get inspire to be associated with environmental protection, biological protection
and nature. From home to ghat, there is a wonderful sight of public concern and reconciliation.
This festival emphasizes social harmony and solidarity as well as scientific significance. It is
believed that in this sacred festival, Lord Chhath Maiya fulfills the wishes of all the worshipers
of the sun. The purity of the Chhath Puja leaves behind the cleanliness mission in modern times.
Every ceremony of Chhath Fast is related to nature and health. In this festival, the river, lake,
pond, along with preserving the environment also promotes environmental protection.

According to Hindu religion, it has also been believed that the Sun heals many severe health
conditions and ensures long life, success, growth and happiness. People celebrate the festival by
following a routine that lasts in four days. The rituals include: fasting (including abstinence from
drinking water), holy bathing, offering prayers to the rising and setting sun, and meditating
by standing in water.

Significance of Chhath Puja

This festival of light, heat and creation of the sun worship is directly related to scientific
knowledge. This is a worship law which has been considered as a scientifically advantageous
one. Especially in the present days, the significance of this festival has increased due to the
shortcomings dealt with the rising threat of environmental hazard and artificiality.

Being attached to Nature is the Inspiration:

During the rituals of Chhath Maha Parv, there is legislation for the use of various other things,
including bribe of bamboo, clay stove, nature provided fruits, reed, which inspires the masses to
return to nature.

Preservation of Organisms is learned:

Songs sung during the rituals of Chhath Puja, kerwa je farela ghawad se oh par sugga
mandaraaye, sugwa je marbo dhanush se suga jaihe murjhaaye, sugani je royeli viyog se aadit
hokhe na sahaaye…, such songs shows that people want to maintain their existence by asking for
protection of animal and birds. Likewise, in the order of this ritual, the tradition of making the
shape of an elephant on the behavior of the soil at the time of filling also provides the inspiration
of biological protection.

A sense of health and clean life is awakened:

During this ritual, special care is taken of purity and cleanliness. This creates a sense of
cleanliness and hygiene in ordinary life, which is undeniably necessary for people's happiness
and healthy life. In Chhath Puja, offerings made from raw turmeric, paan, milk, betel nut,
singhara etc are offered meditation to Lord Sun standing in water. All these things are considered
important for health. Through this ritual, people get inspiration to use such healthcare items in
daily life.

Message of water conservation on Chhath festival:

The significance of the Arghya in the Chhath festival is well known. This festival inspires the
extinction pond, the rivers to life, which is important for natural balance.
Other Concerns of Chhath Puja
Each festivals has its own positive and negative effects, in the same way this festival has also been
changing its way of celebration or worshipping the Sun God.

Indoor Chhath Puja

Peoples residing in urban areas have been facing many problems because of extreme pollution in
the city. Many rivers have been polluted because of human activities. Peoples living in urban
area do worship chhath puja in their home itself, by making small pond inside the home.

Migration
Since most people from Bihar, UP and Jharkhand resides in Delhi for Job, they have to come
back to their home for the Chhath Puja celebration that results in to the larger crowd in to the
train causing inconvenience to the other state passengers.

Polluted Mess accumulation

Now days, there has been reported mess and dirt accumulation nearby the bank of river the day
after the Chhath Puja celebration which is really a major concern as per National Green
Tribuanal.

Conclusion
The Chhath Puja is considered as one of the toughest festival of Hindu religion, still people
celebrate this festival enthusiastically and happily. Chhath Puja is a demonstration of
thankfulness towards the Sun God, which is considered as the life-force. In this festival of
penance and prayers, people worship the rising sun and setting, which represents the symbol of
death and rebirth. This festival somewhere makes the stronger bond between human beings and
nature.