Kathmandu, November 6
People in Nepal, especially Nepalis living in the southern plains, are celebrating the main day of Chhath festival on Satuday by offering puja to the setting sun.
This year, the festival began on Friday.
The five Pandava brothers, as per the Mahabharat, had worshipped the sun while they were living in hiding after losing their kingdom to the Kauravas while gambling. The Pandavas are said to have taken refuge in the palace of King Birat. According to legends, the Sun worship festival began at that time.
As per Surya Purana, Anasuya, the wife of sage Atri, once took fast, wishing for good luck and love of her husband. The Sun is said to have granted her her wishes. People started celebrating the festival since that time.
Indeed, life is impossible without the sun. People, animals and plants need life-giving rays of the Sun. The rays of the Sun even cure several diseases.
As per Samba Purana, Lord Srikrishna and sage Durbasa cursed Samba. As a result, Samba contracted leprosy but he got well after worshipping the Sun.
There’s a popular belief that those, who fast during Chhath, get rid of poverty and miseries. The Sun God becomes happy when devotees offer him bunches of fruits, so goes the belief.
Poor people, who don’t have the means to offer puja to the Sun, do so by seeking help from others.
