Chhath

Remember the "Thekua"-taste, I am not non-Bihari so may be missing lavis tase of that, I remember the song by Anuradha Pawdwal Manoj Tiwari, Kalpana Chawala and very lovely song "Kela ke paat par Ugelan Surujwa" in some Bihari language! Hear these songs in some other Season u will surely feel sleepy but during this season I am sure you'll love everything bout Chhat puja(Hindi: छठ). Lets go through the concepts and rituals in connection with this.

Chhath (also called Dala Chhath) is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Surya (Sun), Agni (fire) and Lord Kartikeya or Muruga, also known as Surya Shashthi, unique to Bihar, Jharkhand and the Terai to thank Surya for bestowing the bounties of life on earth and fulfilling particular wishes. This major festival is also celebrated in the northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, some parts of Chhattisgarh, some parts of West Bengal, Orissa, Assam, Mauritius, mainly among the Bhojpuri and Maithili peaking people. Chhath is also important for Nepalese worshippers of the Sun god as well as in eastern Uttar Pradesh.. Even in Tamil Nadu, the migrants from the north celebrate Chhath beside the sea beach. Hymns praying to the sun can be found in the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism. Practised in different parts of India, the worship of the sun has been described in the Rigveda. Besides Hindus it also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains and is decided by Lunar Calendar.

Chhath is a way to be grateful to the Sun for giving the bounties of life on earth and for the fulfilment of wishes of believers. It is a festival of reverence to the solar deity, the only festival in the world where devotees offer salutations to the setting sun. Unlike Holi or Diwali, Chhath is a festival of prayer and appeasement observed with somberness, a festival that should not be missed. It is held in high esteem and regard.

A million lit lamps with thousands hands offering ‘Arghya’ to the sun makes it a delightful sight. The enormous faith in Chhat Puja has made it one of the most popular festivals this region.

Important Dates:

2008: 3 November

2009: In 2009, the date of main Chhat puja is October 24 and October 25. Chhat Sandhya Argh (Chhat Dala Evening puja) is on October 24 and Chhath Suryodaya Argh (Chhath Dala Morning puja) is on October 25. Nahai Khai is on October 22 and Kharna is on October 23.

2010:11 November

Etymology

The word chhath denotes the number 6 in Hindi ^[and the festival begins on the sixth day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik, which corresponds to months of October and November in the Gregorian calendar (a week after Diwali). Chhath is the holiest Hindu festival of Bihar and extends to four days.

Mythology

The ancient Sanskrit epic Mahābhārata has references to Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas, worshipping the sun, which was believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and ensure longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders. In addition, it is believed that Chhath was started by Karna, the son of Surya, who became a great warrior and fought against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War.

Beliefs:

It is commonly believed that the wishes of the devotees are always granted. Also, the devotees dread the punishment for any misdeed during Chhatt. Therefore, the city remains safe and experiences peace during this time when even criminals prefer to behave.

Some interesting Facts:

You know how much pollutated is the bank of maximum river of India though it will be cleaned at the actual time. When we were teenages we use to go to capture tha land on the bank of River for the Pehla Aragh and Dwitiya Aragh.

Some sale these lands to needy, some does the whole Ghat() at the midst of river by using many Bags of sand placing them on river where there is lesser depth.

Festival

It is celebrated twice a year: once in the summers (May-July), called the Chaiti Chhath, and once in the winter (September-November) around a week after Deepawali, called the Kartik Chhath. The latter is more popular because winters are the usual festive season in North India, and Chhath, being an arduous observance, requiring the worshippers to fast without water for more than 24 hours, is easier to undertake in the Indian winters.

Chhath is mainly a Bihari festival, and so it is celebrated wherever people from Bihar have migrated. This is a ritual bathing festival that follows a period of abstinence and ritual segregation of the worshiper from the main household for four days. During this period, the worshiper observes ritual purity, and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket. The main worshipers, called Parvaitin (from Sanskrit parv, meaning 'occasion' or 'festival'), are usually women. However, a large number of men also observe this festival. The parvaitin pray for the well-being of their family, for prosperity and offspring. They can only perform Chhath if it is passed on to them from their older generation. However, once they decide to do it, it becomes their duty to perform it every year. The festival is skipped only if there happens to be a death in the family that year.

On the eve of Chhath, houses and surroundings are scrupulously cleaned. One the first day of the festival, the worshiper cooks a traditional vegetarian meal and offers it to the Sun God. This day is called Naha-Kha (literally, 'Bathe and eat'!). The worshiper allows herself/himself only one meal on this day.

On the second day, a special ritual, called Kharna, is performed in the evening after Sun down. On this day also, the worshiper eats his/her only meal from the offerings (Prashad) made to the Sun God in this ritual. Friends and family are invited to the household on this day to share the prashad of the ritual. From this day onwards, for the next 36 hours, the worshiper goes on a fast without water.

The evening of the next day, the entire household accompanies the worshiper to a ritual bathing and worship of the Sun God, usually on the bank of a river, or a common large water body. The occasion is almost a carnival. Besides the main worshiper, there are friends and family, and numerous participants and onlookers, all willing to help and receive the blessings of the worshipper. Ritual rendition of regional folk songs, carried on through oral transmission from mothers and mothers-in-law to daughters and daughters-in-law, are sung on this occasion. The same bathing ritual is repeated on the following day at the crack of dawn. This is when the worshipper breaks his/her fast and finishes the ritual. Chhath being celebrated at the crack of the dawn on a river bank is a beautiful, elating spiritual experience connecting the modern Indian to his ancient cultural roots.

The folk songs sung on the eve of Chhath mirror the culture, social structure, mythology and history of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Nowadays, modern Chhath songs, largely Bollywood film remixes have caught on, but the old tradition still goes strong with a great degree of sanctity. The three main linguistic regions of Bihar: the Maithili, the Magadhi, and the Bhojpuri, and all the various dialects associated with these, have different folk songs; but have an underlying unity in their dedicated to Chhath. The minor nuances of the Chhath rituals, such as in the Kharna ritual, vary from region to region, and also across families, but still there is a fundamental similarity.

The Days Of Festivity:

The festival of Chhatt is marked by celebrations and rituals that last 4 days.

As mentioned earlier it's significance may be completion of some particular wish they may be accompanied with some pre multi week Bhiksha from door to door for Paise or cereals.

During the Chhat puja devotees cook food with dry wood on new oven made of brick and soil and the cooked food is ‘Prasad’ or offerings to Sun God. Garlic and Onions are not used during Chhat period.Most of the Devotee families start their cleaning and preparing before Deepawali, They will atleast wont eat any non veg items including Garlic, Eggs(Gandhi believed it as not non veg but Milk Non-veg), Onion.

Nahai Khai first day of Chhat

The first day of Chhat is dedicated to cleaning, preparation and purification and is known as Nahai Khai. Thousands of devotees have an early morning bath in Ganga River on the day. The main food cooked on the day is rice, chana dal, and green gourd (lauki). Lauki is an important preparation on the day and therefore the cooking and the day is also referred as Lauki Bhat.

Kharna fasting second day of Chhat

Fast or Upvaas begins on the second day and this is referred as Kharna. The fast is broken after performing a puja at home in the evening. Kheer, sweets and fruits are offered to deities and then the whole family shares the Prasad. Before having the Prasada it is also compulsory to offer them to ancestors in some isolated places where it is believed that they will come in some form and they will have it. The prasada is also accompanied with one lovely and unique kind of Paratha called Sohari composed of two chapatis fried on small amount of edible oil. Another round of fasting begins after the prasad is shared. This fast is usually broken on the fourth day morning. Some part of them or all say that this day is most important Day.

Chhat Sandhya Argh third day of Chhat

Chhath is the only time when the setting sun as apposed to its rising is celebrated for its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death. After sunset, the devotees return home where celebration takes place by singing hymns while devotees maintaining a strict fast without even water for 3 days. Such is the faith in the “Chhat Maiya” as popularly called.

On the third day in the evening, Chhat Sandhya Argh is offered. Devotees offer ‘Argh’ to setting sun (Lord Surya) along with ‘soop’ at a pond, seashore or riverbank. ‘Argh’ and ‘soop’ are offerings and consists of flowers, fruits, sprouted grains, dry coconut, sugarcane, white radish, sweets and khajurees. The offering is made to Surya by standing in knee-deep water.

In the evening pujas are performed at home and a special puja is done for Agni – fire god. This puja is performed in a special area cordoned off by four sugarcane sticks.

Some may offer Dand-Pranam to Surya for promise they had with Sun God on both Pehla Aragh and Dwitiya Aragh. Some Devotee may be accompanied with some nice sound Systems or some Music Band.

Chhath Sooryodaya Argh fourth day of Chhat

On the fourth day morning, Chhath Sooryodaya Argh is performed. Devotees repeat the rituals performed on the third day evening for rising sun. What is left after offering to Lord Surya is shared as Prasad and the Chhat Puja comes to an end.

They offer ‘Arghya’ and chant mantras and hymns from the Rig Veda and commence the puja. The devotees break the fast. Prasad is distributed. According to belief if you beg for the Prasad all wishes will come true. We sometime make it good times with firework just like Deepawali.

Sun is God of Success So Enjoy it......... I love it.

Love against terrorism

What kinda title is this?
Love.. huh! they need gun not fun.. you may be thinking.. looking at the title of this blog. As a mathematician the 1st question comes into mind i.e. Is there any solution for the problem of terrorism in India?
Before that I would like you to take to another problem where I will place a statement-"every problem has a solution".

Some believe that the above statement is false, argumenting that the set of problem is uncountably infinite, as if we look at the history we can't start counting the problems moreover we don't have enough records of statements of problem arose, but when we look into the solution we can start counting the solutions, as someone is using the solution or someone have recorded the solution, so we can map the problem set as the real numbers and the solution set could be mapped as to Natural numbers.So if we start relating each of the problem set to one of the solution set we will find many members belonging to the former having no images. So there are problems having no solutions.

I argue- both of them are uncountably infinite, logic behind this goes like-
Can you tell me how can we start counting the solution set or which solution could be termed as the 1st solution?- I feel you are here with only thinking capacity.For the time being take the problems belonging to our spatial 3D world. The problem set and the solution set belongs to the same world, but when I say you have placed a problem on 29th July 2002, I'll say still your problem belongs to the same dimension, but when I say you can take your own time, I'm adding a more dimension to your solution set, its very interesting to find that if you are a being belonging to the upper dimension, you will have the most complex problem in the smaller dimension easily solved, In one sentence a higher dimensional being could act like God to us, can be connected to most popular theory like Super Strings Theory, I have learned these interesting things from a very Influential and Intelligent author and Professor known as Dr. Michio Kaku.


So we are here solving the same in two ways.. taking this as urgent problem or as Important problem.

If you place a time limit to a question I'll say It may be unsolved, but if you dont place any time limit I'll say the problem will be solved..I'm damn sure about it.

Most of the people will start suggesting that we should take it as Urgent problem.. I don't have any problem with this kind of view but this is like an extremist view. Where you are indirectly becoming a terrorist against terrorist, don't be anger as this is another property of terrorist you are inheriting, this post is for one who has in his mind the solving the problem in primary but not for one who has hate for terrorist in primary and wiping terrorism as global basis and for permanent measure as secondary. Never use the same path used by your enemy, as that may make the war brutal with two lion, and may make you your enemy like. And remember a extreme step which fails gives you no way to solve the problem again.

You have to keep in mind the only thing the terrorist are not what we think of, they are strong believer and emotional thinker of something innocently arrived conclusion for not exactly their sake but for getting a grater Gravitational power, what we all including non living being try to posses is more gravitational pull or in our domain our quality as explained even by Einstein from his General theory of relativity, not because they are less educated, unintelligent, education is something which helps you in getting wise, knowledge and educations are something called partial parameters on which terrorism depends, the parameter is wisdom, I support education as it is the easiest way to get to wisdom but it is not sufficient and necessary way to get to wisdom and what life wants, so knowing terrorism is the 1st and last goal.

They have a believe like what they think is best and they should achieve it urgently, they have got strong emotions towards something, driving yourself with emotion will lead to the same path, then comes only one thing driving yourself with logic, that's what I wanted to light more on and used a few mathematical Concepts with simple thinking. Extremists are one who has got no difference in fact and rational derivation, rational thinking and perfect thinking as a very small but important difference, the fruit of our work depends on two things one is the actor and the other is his surroundings. Sometimes we have done right things at right time still we find no expected fruit and then we feel that the work is not done properly that is wrong, I'll say if you are not lying to yourself, the work was done rationally not perfectly, perfect things are what is perfect you have got the fruit, and the rational approach is somewhat like you have done everything correctly still you have not achieved it. So rational thinking is something like which should be upgraded all the time to make it close to perfect thinking, like you have to change the theories if it doesn't fit the fact, the terrorists are doing something reverse i.e. change the fact if it doesn't fit the theory. You have to constantly search for the truth make a feedback from your last achievement to the next activities analysing database.

Suppose you and your life partner are black, your parents may be white for the time being forget that, and you have 4 son, 3 of them are black and one of them is white, the three of the black son are quit confident that - that home is their home, suddenly the white guy is at a crossing from where there goes two path one for Inferiority Complex and the other for no complex, you can't get him to Superiority Complex at-least at his home*. So if one of the black fellow makes a small fault the white guy may damage your home peace or valuable things at your home or may harm you even. And his mistake could be taken as innocent, immature, unintelligent but not as brutal as your decision, as you are the creator, he is the medium of the thought you started perhaps not an initiating thought. The only one thing I would like to make clear is that if 7 attackers from Mumbai is attacking on some monument, I'm hundred crore-th part of 7 terrorist. I'm not making statement of keeping your hand on hand but I am making clear of what is called duty of Indians, All the time we go for Right without Duty, we all are so much thinking about the election, this is our right if you say its my duty I'll oppose as if (suppose may not be correct it gives an individual though)I don't feel any party to be appropriate for my country then?

There are two kind of solution for this Black White Son problem-either you place an all time camera in your each room to track him, and the other is make him clear that this home is his own, you decide which solution is better. The 1st solution can be gifted from science or our prestigious Organizations like ISRO perhaps ISRO gifted it as RISAT-2 on 20th April 2009. That is not what we can do, and that is what is not so much influenced by Government I feel as they have enough influencing power and intelligent fellows to jump hurdles and keep moving on for the betterment of human society. Then why are we so much discussing on "Fight for truth?" we must be saying "Love for truth" the only solution we can think of is the second one i.e not fight against terrorism but love against terrorism and that falls in the higher dimension having no time limit, so it will be solved but u need to keep patience and to make it rapid you have to give more and more love.

We should take in account our duty not our right, I feel one who is wise should give his vote. If you are wise then only its your duty to vote, If you go in Wikipedia to look at democratic thinkings wrong effect, you can buy votes through good looking bollywood actors, impressive figures, public display of truth filtered picture of leaders, speeches, maximum of parties here are doing this, these activities can change only the mind of irrational people, still why there are so much campaigning? Because here leaders tries to win by buying the votes before election, I hope they could waste their money not on their posters, speeches, transportation, security, .. but on the poor peoples or to make this country walking. Actually they also know that they are going to be influencing only for sometime they do not try to make a stable Goverment, I feel they even don't love their political parties keeping them a hundred million away from loving politics in a good sense, I feel maximum of politicians are good hearted, they have constraints around them in doing a good work, you may ask if their are maximum of politician right then why we are not moving forward?
I'll ask 2 question..

1. If 20 good mangoes are squizzed with 5 rotten mangoes what will you get.. smell of mango or rotten smell?
or a similar question: We all love India then where from the terrorist comes? As a whole we are not at peace.

Again a small statement is to expedite your thought: Democratic principle may lead to one statement that what general people says is right. I'll make you take the example of a this world classifying as medical knowledge, number of patients are larger than number of doctors.

2. Can you say how much your 12 year old child has got his height in last year without using mark up or scales?

We don't analyse Govt. as we take measure of our Child's Height by taking a scale and marking his height on the wall and doing the same after a year and then getting the difference, just seeing at your child you can never tell his growth as he is growing in front of your eyes.


A few things I would like to share?

Have you seen the two of the most Influencing party leaders in our India is not saying about the country but they are just querying with themselves and we people open a TV channel to see it as WWE, Dr. Manmohan Singh is weak- wow what a comment from Advani Ji, if he cannot give respect to the PM's position he must not throw such comments as youngsters always try to learn from them, I won't say anything about what was Dr. Manmohan before he commented against Advani Ji on the same issue, but I am sure now he has a lesser distance from what he was recognised by the opponent.

Here comes our role, I pray to youngsters the reason for war on this earth is worshipping human being, as I feel, so never ever blindly believe a person. Make yourself fully convinced of what you are going to follow. If a man comes out with best experiences in his life and you are a listener, then I'm damn sure a normal intelligent man could look like a teacher to you. So your teacher may be thinking himself a poor student than you, so always have confidence that you are not as fool as you think yourself, and you are not as intelligent as you think yourself.
I pray to all of our leaders, never try to show your achievements, or to bark on stage, as you are their for us not for the opposition party or your family, please don't start a boring serial on news channel, what exactly you are doing? you are taking our resources to show what you have achieved, even you waste 22 rupees for the same, I'll ask you to give 12 eggs for Indian child, at least you could rich a score of 6 to 12 hens.

I pray all our citizens just distribute love not hatred, if our leaders could not set themselves examples for us, then we will set examples for them, one who votes without thinking or knowledge is pouring water on one intelligent and wise thinker's thought, so if you go and vote without reason, or are just influenced by their false speeches or false showing off using good looking/ influencing personalities, from my opinion you are committing crime. Get the power for what you can do, go away from what you cannot do and know the difference between them.

I've come to a conclusion how should we select our leaders.. I have got it through one of the Chanakya Niti's statement, yet I'm not so much happy with his approach of seeing life at least at this time but..... I feel we should see the bright face of everything not looking at darker side, or he may be right at his time.

Tenth statement from Chapter Three:

Give up a member to save a family, a family to save a village, a village to save a country, and the country to save yourself.

Yes find who is best for your locality is best for you. Just go with Non-Cooperation Movement, never cooperate that leader who is wrongly placed by a Political party so that they will think a thousand times before giving ticket to a bad fellow. You can have an Informed choice by visiting http://myneta.info/ and checking the CV of your neta.

The second and the important thing I have gone through Recently was Babari Masjid Demolition.

Two thing may happen:
1. there was a temple there.
2. there was no temple there.

If the 2nd one is truth then I don't know what kinda mistake we Indian have done as I'm not using the word Hindu or Muslim, as last few paragraphs was on the same topic as if someone is the reason for disappointment then that must be a middle step. Actually these things happens in home, as a blind tantrum happens in a family between siblings.

If the 1st is truth then even I'll say we have done wrong, How can we demolish a God's Home for another God's Home. I have not gone through so much through Muslim Religious thought but I strongly believe the same thing must be their too, as for the fact I am just linking Ramakrishna's thought, he meditated on Allah for few days keeping himself aloof from Hindu temples and religions activities, he himself felt Allah. If you can't respect other religion you are the enemy of your own religion. As one human is not judged by his physical fitness but by his behaviour with other people.

I pray to each human being living in each community in India, it may happen one community hurt other, is that good, is that what your religion wants from you to re-attack? I'll say Love in return if you want to break the chain & probably his thought.

India is not for any one community, it belongs to all who loves India, I want to make the whole world love my India.

If something bad happens take it as tantrum, and try to take as much as responsible you can take an behave with the culprit as you behaved with the child who made a big mistake but is you son.

Try not use the same path they are using as that may make you the same at-least from their perspective, try to see everything from 3rd person.