Chhath Mahaparv: Bihar's Four-Day Sun Worship Tradition and Its Nature Conservation Message

The news

Chhath Mahaparv, the four-day folk festival dedicated to the Sun and Chhathi Maiya, is being observed across Bihar and beyond. The festival, which began with Nahay Khay, is a tradition that has been transmitted within communities for thousands of years and is now celebrated in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Nepal, Mauritius, Fiji, the United States and Gulf countries. The rituals express gratitude to nature and encourage the cleaning of water bodies.

The observance includes a second-day ritual called Kharna, after which devotees begin an approximately 36-hour waterless fast. On the third day, offerings are made to the setting Sun, and on the fourth day to the rising Sun. Folk beliefs connect the festival with Karna, Sita and Goddess Shashthi, though these are traditions rather than established historical origins. The Sita Charan temple in the Ganga in Munger district is associated with the festival's beliefs.

What is the legal status of Chhath as a public holiday?

Chhath Puja is recognised as a public holiday in several Indian states, though its legal status varies by region. The Government of India includes it in the list of restricted holidays for central government offices, allowing employees to choose it as an optional leave. The Bihar government has long declared it a full public holiday given the festival's deep cultural roots in the state. Other states, such as Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, also observe it as a public holiday through their respective state government notifications.

What is the Vedic and mythological background of Chhath?

Sun worship is associated with Vedic traditions, and the Rigveda describes the Sun's life-giving and illuminating qualities. Chhath is a folk tradition strongly identified with Bihar. Its rituals centre on the Sun, water and earth rather than requiring an idol or a grand temple. Religious traditions also associate Sun worship with Karna, the son of the Sun in the Mahabharata, who is linked to the Anga region whose historical centre is the present-day Bhagalpur area. Sita is also believed to have performed the Chhath fast.

What does the festival achieve and what are its limits?

The festival brings devotees together at shared riverbanks and other water bodies. Cleaning these sites and assisting those observing the fast are collective activities. Traditional songs transmit folk literature across generations, while the emphasis on clean rivers, ponds and water sources links cultural practice with environmental awareness. However, the festival's beliefs are folk traditions rather than established historical origins, and its practice depends on the availability of clean and accessible water bodies.