Similarities between Ganesh Utsav and Chhath Puja

Special on Chhath Puja

(Rajesh Sinha)

Ganesh festival has special significance in Maharashtra and due to its special importance and purity, this festival has become a festival celebrated with pomp in every corner of the country along with Maharashtra and now all over the world.

Something similar is also the significance of Chhath Puja which started from Bihar and Jharkhand. The importance of this festival, which started from Bihar and Jharkhand, can now be seen from the example of celebrating Mahaparv Chhath across the world with every state of the country.

Like the Ganesh festival, Chhath festival is also a symbol of Hindu faith. And the people of the house celebrating it follow many strict rules with great enthusiasm. That is why the rules and objectives observed in both Ganeshotsav and Chhath Puja festivals are similar.

A special report has been prepared after studying the same subject in the vicinity of Mumbai. which is presenting to its readers.

The world-famous Ganesh festival of Maharashtra is no longer the monopoly of only the Marathi people of Maharashtra. It is now being celebrated with pomp and gaiety by every language-speaker across the country in their respective states.

The country’s leading social reformer Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak has an important role in the form of Ganesh festival that is today. Local people celebrate Ganesh Utsav with different rules in Maharashtra under the guidelines of Tilak. And it has a different significance.

Ganesh Utsav is celebrated all over the world on Bhadrapada Chaturthi Tithi, but in the houses where Ganesh Utsav takes place, there are some rules in those houses. In which, in the houses celebrating Ganesh Utsav, a month before, that is, from the beginning of the month of Sawan, non-vegetarian food is banned in the houses.

It is the contribution of Lokmanya Tilak that the percentage of non-vegetarian consumption across Maharashtra decreases during the month of Shravan during Ganeshotsav. And the demand for green vegetables increases in the market.

During Ganeshotsav, only vegetarian food is prepared in homes. As the day approaches, along with cleaning the houses, various rules are followed to keep the house pure and clean.

Exactly similar rules are followed in the house where Chhath festival is celebrated. In the houses where Chhath Puja is performed, meat-eating is banned under strict rules since Dussehra, for the members of the household, non-vegetarian food is also prohibited outside the house.

Cleaning the house, painting and painting becomes natural before Diwali. In the homes of Chhath Vratis, after Diwali, the preparation of vegetable stops by adding onion-garlic. As with the end of the month of Shravan, Kanda garlic becomes forbidden in the houses of Ganeshotsav.

The world famous social reformer Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak prepared the outline for the Ganesh festival in Maharashtra, in which the Rangoli depiction outside the houses on the Ganesh festival is the identity of Lord Ganesha sitting in that house.

Every member of the house of Ganeshotsav invites all his acquaintances and relatives along with the people around him to attend the Ganesh festival. Due to modernization, these houses are now recognized by the electrical lighting done in them.

Exactly the same example can be seen in the houses where the Mahaparva Chhath is organized. Rangoli is now becoming popular in North India especially in cities, but electric lighting gives its identity in the houses of Chhath Puja in the village.

All relatives are invited for 4 days in Chhath Puja. And without fail, most relatives make their presence felt.
Neighbors also consider it their fortune to receive the invitation, in the houses of Chhath fasting, to eat rice and pulses in the “Nahaye Khaye” and to eat the pudding of Kheer made from the fire of mango wood in “Kharna” on an earthen stove.

An example of mutual cooperation, brotherhood and enthusiasm among the people of the area during the public Ganeshotsav can be seen in every street of Maharashtra, the same atmosphere can be seen in every city, village and streets of Bihar, Jharkhand during Chhath Puja. People of every religion and caste take part in this enthusiastically, no caste discrimination, no tension,

And examples of this can be seen at the administrative level. The crime graph of Bihar and Jharkhand remains zero during Chhath Puja.