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Chhath Parva

Worshipping the Sun

In the most ancient religious texts of South Asia, the Rig Veda, Surya, the sun is described as one of the three greatest gods.

The sun is said to ride through the sky on a one wheeled chariot drawn by seven divine horses. The dawn is his wife and Brahma, the creator, is said to be his father.
He is considered to be the only visible god in the universe.
According to mythology, the Sun god’s wife, unable to tolerate his brilliance, fled from him leaving her shadow behind.

This shadow bore Surya three children before he realized that his wife had deserted him. However, after a long search he found his wife again.
To reduce the sun’s brilliance, her father cut down the light of the sun by one-eight of his radiating power.
This part of the brilliance which fell on the earth was transformed into discuss of Vishnu and Shiva. This ancient vedic god, unlike many of the others, retained his popularity among the people.
He was extensively worshipped in southern Nepal about a thousand years ago.
This worship still survives in the festival called Chhath Parva, the grateful festival of the Terai plains of Nepal a festival which celebrates the powers of the glorious sun.
He is primarily worshipped by women for their health and well-being and also their families.
His worship is said to cure skin diseases, and heal leprosy.
During the festival the sun is worshipped at sunrise and sun-set. Devotional songs are sung and water, food and prayers offered.
Chhath begins with the worship of the setting sun.
Devotees do not consume meat, food which has been salted and alcoholic beverages as they prepare for the evening worship.
Khir, a pudding of rice and milk, is eaten. Some return home and others spend a night in temporary huts of bamboo or thatch, singing folksongs related to the worship of the sun.
The next morning everyone awakes early to worship the rising-sun. People bathe in holy rivers and make offerings of the water.
After dawn some return home while others continue to mediatate into the late afternoon.
Men and women offer the sun god with offerings of coconut, sugarcane, bananas and other food, as well as the colorful flowers which are abundant in this season.
After the prayers, the offerings known as Prasad, or blessed food, are shared among themselves, sent to relatives and friends, and given to the poor.
Thus, it has been for probably three thousand years that the sun, the only visible god, continues to be worshipped.

And as if responding to the prayers and offerings of the devotees, the energy and brilliance of sun continues to shine on the people of this earth bringing them health, warmth and happiness.

Holi

Fagu is the spring time festival of colors of the Hindus. It is celebrated for a whole week. It starts on the eight day of Falgun (March) according to the lunar calendar. This festival is mainly meant for mirth and merriment. It gives a glimpse of carnival to foreign tourists. In one word it is a festival of fun. This is one of our national festivals because it is celebrated in the whole country especially in Terai. In Terai state it starts on the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami or Shree Panchami. Labours and low caste people start singing Fagua folksongs which are very vulgar but people do not take it seriously because they highlight the lightest side of life. People of Terai are fed up with their agricultural work throughout the whole year. So they want to bring about change in their monotonous life.

It is celebrated one day after the full moon day. It is called Hori or Holi in local dialect of the Terai. It is derived from the word Holika. Holika was the sister of Hiranyakasipu, a demon king who wanted to kill his own son Prahlad, a dedicated devotee of Lord Bishnu. It is the symbol of victory of good over evil. This festival is also associated with radha-Krishna and Gopinis. Krishna is the symbol of amorous deeds. He was fond of virgin girls. He loved their company. It is said that he enjoyed with sixteen thousand such ladies. He also enjoyed conjugal life with some of them. So this festival is also romantic in nature and is related to the Krishna legend. This festival can be called a festival of joy and jest.

These holi celebrants smear each other with colorful powders. They also embrace each other with love and affection. Thus they are relieved of the tension of complex and miserable daily life for one day at least in the year.

Jhulan

Jhulan is swinging of Terai which is celebrated for a complete fortnight. It starts on the first night of the bright lunar month of sweet Shrawan and continues till the full moon night. This is also called temple dance because this dance drama is performed in almost all temples of Terai state. The idols of Radha and Krishna are kept in cradle decorated beautifully and tastefully band swinging by their devotees. The cradle is tied with rope. The idols of Rama. Sita and Lakshaman are also in the cradle and made swinging in this occasion. People dance and sing songs devoted to Lord Krishna and Rama late at night with great respect. Devotees from India and other parts of Nepal come to see this festival at Janaki Mandir in Janakpurdham where this dance-drama is performed. Special arrangement is made for this festival in almost all temples but Ram Mandir and Janaki Mandir are main venues for this festivity. People perform Kirtans to please them. The thread of swinging cradle is cut on the full moon night and a special programme is solemnized to mark this festival. Devotees distribute Prasad and they also eat and enjoy to a great extent on this occasion.

Rakhi

Rakhi is also called rakchha Bandhan (tie of Protection). This monsoon festival is celebrated on the full moon day of Shrawan (July0 in the whole Terai state. One of the main features of this festival is that sisters bind rakhi round their brother’s wrist for their good health and long life. This is not a festival of thread only but this is a festival of undying faith. Sisters pray for long life of their brothers in the years to come. Brothers go even miles together for this purpose carrying rakhi, fruits, and sweets. Sisters pray for their brothers life’s longevity. This festival symbolizes the eternal love between brothers and sisters. Rachis are made of several colourful silken threads. This monsoon festival is in vogue from time immemorial in the Terai state of Nepal. People celebrate it joyfully and enthusiastically because they have no work to do after rice-plantation in their fields. The climate is also favorable and suitable.