Chaat Puja in India

"Chatt pooja is a Hindu festival celebrated especially by Biharis. The word ""Chatt"" means the number six in Hindi .The Chatt festival is dedicated to the Sun god. It is a belief that people worship Sun and thank Him for bestowing the bounties of life in earth and fulfilling their wishes. It is also a faith that the prayers of the devotees on this occasion are always answered; and the sinners get punished for their any wrong doings. It is celebrated for three-four days. During this occasion, the worshipers, usually women, observe ritual purity. They sleep on the floor on a single blanket or a mat. They pray and fast for the well-being of their family and prosperity. On the eve of this festival, houses are scrupulously cleaned. The worshippers observe a fast from dawn to the dusk. On the occasion, the entire family accompanies the worshiper to a ritual bathing and worship of the Sun god, usually on the bank of a river or a large common water body. The devotees take a holy dip.Throughout the festival, the food prepared is totally vegetarian, without even onions and garlic. On Chatt, women of the family recite regional folk songs and entertain themselves with the family members. Friends and relatives are invited to the household to share the 'prashad' of the ritual.

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