PM Modi Invites Citizens To Share Chhath Puja Songs Celebrating Faith And Culture

As the auspicious festival of Chhath Puja begins on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has encouraged citizens to share songs dedicated to the celebration. He said he intends to repost them over the coming days.

Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “The great festival of Chhath, dedicated to nature and culture, is approaching. Devotees across the country, including in Bihar, have already immersed themselves with full devotion in the preparations for it. The songs of Chhathi Maiya enhance the grandeur and divinity of this sacred occasion. I request you to share songs related to Chhath Puja with me as well. I will share them with all fellow citizens over the next few days.”

The four-day festival will be observed from Saturday to 28 October, honouring the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. Devotees seek blessings for prosperity, good health, and well-being during this time.

Recognised as one of the most important Hindu festivals, Chhath Puja holds deep cultural and spiritual significance. It is primarily celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. The festival is also observed by Indian communities in Nepal and around the world.

The festival is, however, marked by themes of purity, gratitude, and family welfare.

With its origins tracing back to the Satyuga and Dwapara Yuga, Chhath Puja is considered one of the oldest known forms of Sun worship.

Devotees maintain strict discipline throughout the rituals. Many fast without food or water for extended periods to demonstrate devotion and seek divine blessings.

Worshipping Surya (the Sun God) during Chhath is believed to dispel negativity and bring peace and positivity.

Four Days of Faith and Fasting

The festival unfolds over four days, each symbolising purification, faith, and self-control:

• Day 1 – Nahai Khai: Devotees take a ritual bath in rivers or ponds and prepare offerings, emphasising cleanliness and sanctity.
• Day 2 – Kharna: A day of fasting from sunrise to sunset, concluded with offerings of jaggery, rice, and wheat, shared among family and neighbours to strengthen community ties.
• Day 3 – Sandhya Arghya: Devotees gather by water bodies to offer arghya (prayers) to the setting Sun, expressing gratitude for life and sustenance.
• Day 4 – Usha Arghya: The final day sees offerings made to the rising Sun, marking renewal and spiritual rebirth. The fast is broken after prayers, with prasad distributed among family and the community.

Celebrated with simplicity and devotion, Chhath Puja highlights the connection between humanity and nature.

The offerings of fruits, vegetables, and sweets symbolise nature’s bounty, while fasting and prayer embody the devotees’ quest for purity of body, mind, and soul.

At its heart, the festival represents gratitude and respect for the natural world, reaffirming the harmony between humans and their environment.

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