11-12-2007, 02:14 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Diwali over, get ready for <b>Chhath </b>
Deepak Kumar Jha | New Delhi
The over month long festival in the Capital will come to an end with yet another significant festival the Chhath Puja beginning on Tuesday. With over 40 lakh <b>Poorvanchalis - people belonging to the states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Eastern UP- staying in Delhi, the Surya Shashti (Chhath) festival has become an integral part of the various celebrations in Delhi after Dussehra, Diwali and Holi</b>. The importance of the festival is such that different political parties have made all efforts in the recent years wooing the voters from Poorvanchals, which constitutes a major part of the voters for the Congress and BJP.
<b>Chhath Puja is observed with paying obeisance to the rising Sun on the 6th day from Diwali. This year it starts from the November 13 with a ritual known as Nahaye-Khaye in which the worshippers takes a meal of Lauki-Bhaat (Gourd and cooked rice) after a bath to begin with their almost three day fast. The next day - November 14 will be observed as Kharna, where on this day the family deity is worshipped and prasad of Kheer made of jaggery and poorie is distributed which marks the procedural beginning of the Chhath Puja, an important festival in Bihar and eastern UP.</b>
<b>On November 15 the devotees would continue with their day long fast and offer prayers to the setting Sun known as Pehla Argh in the evening at the banks of rivers, ponds or artificial water bodies made in the premises of the residence like that of high profile people in the Capital. Lakhs of worshippers throng the roads of the city to reach the river banks by singing devotional songs which continues throughout the night even as interested worshippers perform the Kosi Puja.
In the next morning the first rays of the Sun God is worshipped called as Subeh Ka Argh constituted of gram seeds, akshat (rice) and fruits. Finally the fast is broken and the favourite prasad constituted of Thekua, a traditional Bihari baked cake of maida, flour and gur, Ladoos made out of rice and fruits are served and also distributed to all and sundry. The weeklong preparation of Chhath Puja which is done for the welfare of the family, especially son comes to and end with a feast on the spicy vegetables.</b>
On the occasion of Chhath Puja sufficient arrangements are made by the Delhi Government and the civic bodies for cleaning of all the water bodies of the Capital besides security arrangements, lighting and nightshelters. The obeisance to the Sun god is done with several rituals and with great pomp and show at the banks of Yamuna at Sur Ghat at Wazirabad, Kudesia Ghat, near ITO, Kalindi Kunj, Sonia Vihar and at Bhalswa Jehangirpuri Jheel, Sanjay Jheel, Jheel Kureji and at other water bodies. According to the Delhi Irrigation Department, at present the water level at Yamuna is one foot below the normal level and the Delhi Government has reportedly made requests to the Haryana Government to release 200 Cusecs of water immediately so that sufficient water is available in Yamuna between the November 14-16, the prime days for Chhath Puja. "The Delhi Government should ensure sufficient water in the Yamuna so that the devotees of Chhath Puja do not face difficulties like all the years they have been," said Delhi BJP President Dr Harsh Vardhan.
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Deepak Kumar Jha | New Delhi
The over month long festival in the Capital will come to an end with yet another significant festival the Chhath Puja beginning on Tuesday. With over 40 lakh <b>Poorvanchalis - people belonging to the states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Eastern UP- staying in Delhi, the Surya Shashti (Chhath) festival has become an integral part of the various celebrations in Delhi after Dussehra, Diwali and Holi</b>. The importance of the festival is such that different political parties have made all efforts in the recent years wooing the voters from Poorvanchals, which constitutes a major part of the voters for the Congress and BJP.
<b>Chhath Puja is observed with paying obeisance to the rising Sun on the 6th day from Diwali. This year it starts from the November 13 with a ritual known as Nahaye-Khaye in which the worshippers takes a meal of Lauki-Bhaat (Gourd and cooked rice) after a bath to begin with their almost three day fast. The next day - November 14 will be observed as Kharna, where on this day the family deity is worshipped and prasad of Kheer made of jaggery and poorie is distributed which marks the procedural beginning of the Chhath Puja, an important festival in Bihar and eastern UP.</b>
<b>On November 15 the devotees would continue with their day long fast and offer prayers to the setting Sun known as Pehla Argh in the evening at the banks of rivers, ponds or artificial water bodies made in the premises of the residence like that of high profile people in the Capital. Lakhs of worshippers throng the roads of the city to reach the river banks by singing devotional songs which continues throughout the night even as interested worshippers perform the Kosi Puja.
In the next morning the first rays of the Sun God is worshipped called as Subeh Ka Argh constituted of gram seeds, akshat (rice) and fruits. Finally the fast is broken and the favourite prasad constituted of Thekua, a traditional Bihari baked cake of maida, flour and gur, Ladoos made out of rice and fruits are served and also distributed to all and sundry. The weeklong preparation of Chhath Puja which is done for the welfare of the family, especially son comes to and end with a feast on the spicy vegetables.</b>
On the occasion of Chhath Puja sufficient arrangements are made by the Delhi Government and the civic bodies for cleaning of all the water bodies of the Capital besides security arrangements, lighting and nightshelters. The obeisance to the Sun god is done with several rituals and with great pomp and show at the banks of Yamuna at Sur Ghat at Wazirabad, Kudesia Ghat, near ITO, Kalindi Kunj, Sonia Vihar and at Bhalswa Jehangirpuri Jheel, Sanjay Jheel, Jheel Kureji and at other water bodies. According to the Delhi Irrigation Department, at present the water level at Yamuna is one foot below the normal level and the Delhi Government has reportedly made requests to the Haryana Government to release 200 Cusecs of water immediately so that sufficient water is available in Yamuna between the November 14-16, the prime days for Chhath Puja. "The Delhi Government should ensure sufficient water in the Yamuna so that the devotees of Chhath Puja do not face difficulties like all the years they have been," said Delhi BJP President Dr Harsh Vardhan.
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