Chhath Pooja (Sanskrit: Surya Shashthi), however, is one popular festival in Nepal and eastern parts of India that appears to have its origins in the Vedas themselves. Sun is one of the most important deities to whom invocations are made in Vedas. But more importantly, the Goddess “Usha”, the wife of Sun, also a very important Goddess in the Vedas, but not mentioned very often in other scriptures, is worshipped in Chhath festival. And only in the Chhath festival. Usha is called “chhathi maiya” by Chhath worshippers.
Present day Hindu culture and religion largely connects with the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas. Our remembered heroes and Gods / Goddesses, our festivals and rituals, all connect with these scriptures. The day to day practice of Hinduism seldom seems to connect with the Vedas, though of course Vedas are held in highest esteem.
It is in fact conjectured that Chhath may even predate Vedas. There are verses in the Rig Veda which describe Sun worship, and the description closely matches the observances of Chhath today. Other references include Draupadi being depicted in the Mahabharata observing Chhath rituals, as also Sita in Ramayana.
Chhath Pooja is probably the oldest and the only surviving festival from Vedic times in India!
Chhath Pooja falls on kartik shukla shashthi according to the Hindu calendar. This means Chhath arrives six days after Diwali. Chhath is mainly celebrated in Bihar, parts of UP and parts of Nepal now, though some people in other parts of India too observe the festival. Chhath has moved all over the world now with the migration of people from Bihar and Nepal.
The actual observance of Chhath is quite rigorous for those who celebrate and observe it. Like most Hindu festivals, Chhath involves ceremonial bathing and worshipping the Gods / Goddesses, in this case the Sun and his wives Usha and Pratyusha. But Chhath also involves fasting upto a period of 36 hours during which the devotee does not even drink water. The festival actually lasts 5 days, with the most important day mentioned earlier falling on the shashthi of kartik shukla.
In modern times, Chhath seems to have become more identified with the people of Bihar, which is unfortunate because this festival has the potential to connect us Hindus with the Vedas. Indeed, this festival could be the most universal and unifying feature of Hinduism since it relates not to any sect (e.g. Vaishnavite, Shaivite etc.) but to those scriptures revered by all Hindus.