Jivesh Jha’s latest book provides an in-depth exploration of the grand festival of Chhath, focusing on its environmental, social, and multifaceted significance. It thoroughly covers all aspects of the festival, including its spiritual and religious importance, its influence on people's faith, and its socio-environmental and economic contributions to the national GDP. Divided into six chapters, the first two chapters explore the historical and spiritual aspects of Chhath, its celebration process, and the festival's timing. The third chapter examines the rituals observed by devotees, preparations required for the celebration, and the process of making offerings to Chhathi Maiya (Chhath goddess). The fourth chapter highlights the festival's role in promoting social equality, inclusivity, and environmental justice. The fifth chapter discusses its economic contributions, and the final chapter provides a concise summary of the overall importance of Chhath.
The author draws upon both personal experiences of celebrating Chhath and academic research, resulting in the first published work focused on the festival, for which the Mithila community and future generations are indebted.
Chhath is more than just a celebration for the devotees of the southern belt of Nepal and northern India—it embodies deep emotions, faith, and religious heritage. As a member of the Terai community and a devotee of Chhath, I was unaware of the festival's profound spiritual and historical significance, the detailed rituals performed each day, and the spiritual guidelines that should be followed during its celebration until reading this book. The book provides valuable insights into these aspects, including the deities worshipped during Chhath. It explains that the festival is dedicated to the Sun God and his consort, Shasti Devi (Chhathi Maiya).
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Chhath is not a gender-specific festival, but it has traditionally been women-centric, as Chhathi Maiya is said to be the protector goddess of children, ensuring their longevity and good health. The book also discusses festival preparations, where local residents diligently clean watercourses such as ponds or rivers where puja ceremonies will take place. However, the book overlooks a modern aspect: local social organizations and committees that charge a service fee from devotees and organize the watercourses (Chhath Ghat) for the festival's celebration.
The Chhath festival spans four days, with each day dedicated to a unique ritual performed by the Vrati (those who fast and perform the rituals). This festival symbolizes values such as socialism, equality, religious and caste harmony, environmental respect, and a sense of fraternity. Additionally, it is believed that bathing during Chhath has healing properties, particularly for leprosy and other skin diseases, highlighting the importance of ponds and rivers and encouraging their protection.
The book outlines the rituals and preparations for the Chhath festival. On the first day, the Vrati and their families pledge to abstain from non-vegetarian food, garlic, and onion. They eat only after bathing and offering prayers to the Sun God. The second day, known as Kharna, involves a day-long fast until the evening, when devotees offer kheer (a sweet dish made from rice, milk, and jaggery) and puri to the gods. Traditionally, kheer is cooked on an earthen stove (chulha) with mango wood as fuel, but the book overlooks the modern practice of using gas stoves for convenience.
On the third day, called Sandhya Arghya (evening offering), devotees observe a strict fast, refraining from food and water. In the evening, they bathe at the Chhath Ghat and offer prayers to the Sun God along with all the prasad. The final day, Usha Arghya (morning offering), involves breaking the fast after offering prayers to the rising sun and taking a ritual bath in the ponds. Prasad items typically include Thakuwa, Bhuswa, Khaja, sweets, and fruits like oroblanco grapefruit, sugarcane, and bananas.
The book also explores the diversity of Chhath and its influence on society, the economy, and national growth. Chhath promotes religious harmony, as it is primarily a Hindu festival, but members of the Muslim community also participate. The festival supports environmental stewardship by encouraging the cleaning of ponds and rivers in preparation for the rituals. Additionally, the purchase of festival supplies from local markets contributes to economic growth.
The festival reinforces constitutional values by promoting religious harmony, equality, and environmental justice. However, the book could benefit from a deeper exploration of the historical development of Chhath, including how people began celebrating it and its spiritual significance. It should also emphasize why the younger generation should take responsibility for celebrating Chhath with greater spiritual awareness. Additionally, the book does not sufficiently address traditional methods of celebrating Chhath, which should be preserved and integrated into modern celebrations—this omission is a notable gap in its coverage.
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