### Chhath Puja — A Revered Festival of North India

Chhath Puja is one of the most revered and sacred festivals celebrated primarily in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal’s Terai region. In recent years, with the migration of people from these regions, the festival has found its way to many other parts of India and abroad, spreading its message of purity, devotion, and ecological harmony.

The festival is dedicated to the Sun God (Surya), the eternal source of energy and life, and to Chhathi Maiya, believed to be the sister of the Sun God and the goddess who sustains and nurtures life on Earth. Devotees express gratitude to the setting and rising Sun for bestowing health, prosperity, and well-being upon their families.

Chhath Puja stands apart for its strict rituals, discipline, and purity. Devotees observe four days of fasting, offer Arghya (water offerings) to the setting and rising Sun, and stand in water bodies to pray for the prosperity of their loved ones. The festival also carries a deep ecological message — emphasizing cleanliness, respect for nature, and gratitude for the elements that sustain life.

However, for many migrant labourers living away from their home states, celebrating this auspicious festival used to feel incomplete. To fill this void, A. K. Jha, Ravi Chandra Shrivastava, Shekhar Jha, Bikash Anand, and several other dedicated individuals came together to initiate Chhath Puja celebrations in 2021 at Biodiversity Park, Sector 93B.

During the first year, nearly 1,000 devotees gathered to participate. Inspired by the remarkable cleanliness, orderliness, and spiritual atmosphere, the celebration has grown tremendously — reaching an impressive 10,000 devotees this year.

This growing participation reflects not only the deep faith of the devotees but also the commitment of the organizers to preserve the cultural and spiritual heritage of Chhath Puja, keeping alive the warmth of home and tradition even far from the Ganges’ banks.

9999331489