The Chhath festival is celebrated to pay obeisance to Sun God and Chhathi Maiya by offering ‘Araghya’ to the setting and rising sun, and by following the other rituals with full dedication. This festival is mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
The Bihar government has chipped in to nurture the massive tourism potential of the festival. For the first time, the state tourism department has chalked out a Chhath tourism package so that tourists can understand the nobility of the festival and also watch the devotees offering ‘Araghya’ to the rising and setting sun on Chhath ghats along the banks of Ganga River.
Bihar Tourism Department PRO Ravishankar Upadhyay told this journalist that the cruise has a sitting capacity of 250 people.
Upadhyay said the response to the guided tour for tourists for watching the Chhath ghats in the state capital Patna has evoked good response so far. “The response would have been much better if the air fares had not been as high as they currently are,” he added.
This year, the four-day Chhath Puja begins on November 5 (tomorrow) with Nahaya-Khay, followed by Kharna the next day. On November 7, devotees will offer Araghya to the setting sun while they will offer Araghya to the rising sun (known as Paran) at the same place the next day.
Bihar Tourism Department has prepared two tour packages – stretching for two nights and three days, and three nights and four days – for enthusiasts who can watch the Chhath celebrations along the Chhath ghats prepared on the Ganga River banks in the state capital. One can book the tour packages by visiting the website of the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC).
State Tourism Minister Nitish Mishra said the government is trying to attract domestic and foreign tourists by preparing special tour packages for them. To make the tour packages more attractive, visitors will also be taken to various tourist places in the state capital.
During the Chhath festival, tourists will be taken to the houses of devotees so that they can know the importance of the festival and the rituals associated with it. In addition, they will also have a chance to have ‘prasad’ at the houses of devotees.
Dhanajay Kumar Pandey, a native of Bihar who was working in Kampala (the capital of Uganda) until a few years ago, said that his family along with other families from Bihar and other states used to celebrate Chhath puja in Kampala.
“Even local people were very much interested to know about the festival,” said Pandey.
“Chhath puja inspires curiosity among all sections of the society, irrespective of where they come from and can attract people from all parts of the country and the world,” he remarked while applauding the Bihar government’s efforts in this regard.
The Sun Temple in Baragaon near Nalanda, where new paddy, sweets and fruits are offered in worship, has emerged as one of the most sought-after places for Chhath enthusiasts and tourists.
Nalanda district, whose administrative headquarters is Bihar Sharif, is home to the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Every year, the Bihar tourism department organises Rajgir Dance Festival, a colourful festival of classical and folk dances, in the city of Rajgir – an ancient city surrounded by hills, known for its holy sites.
The Chhath festival is celebrated without any guidance from a priest, adding another uniqueness to the festival.
Tourists are also attracted to the festival for delicacies associalted with it like thekua (also known as Khajuria, Tikari and Thokni, it is an Indo-Nepalese cookie popular in Southern Nepal and the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh), and coconut rice laddu, the way these are prepared and presented. These delicacies are prepared with complete devotion.
Thekua is made from whole wheat flour, jaggery and ghee and is fried until it becomes golden brown and crispy. The symbolism of thekua in the festival is in its purity and simplicity in offerings made to the Sun God.
Thekua is offered to tourists and visitors, and they relish this delicacy with a sense of complete satisfaction.
