Page 4 - Mann Ki Baat, October 2022
P. 4
My dear countrymen, Namaskar!
My dear countrymen, made of bamboo is used. Earthen
Namaskar. Today, ‘Chhath’, the lamps have their own significance.
great festival of sun worship is Through this, the importance of
being celebrated in many parts farmers who grow gram and small
of the country. Lakhs of devotees entrepreneurs making batashas
have reached their villages, their has been established in the
homes, their families to be a part society. Without their cooperation,
of the ‘Chhath’ festival. I pray that the worship of Chhath, simply
Chhath Maiya blesses everyone cannot be completed. The festival
with prosperity and well being. of Chhath also emphasizes on
Friends, the tradition of the importance of cleanliness
worshiping the Sun is a proof of in our lives. On the arrival of this
how deep our culture, our faith, is festival, roads, rivers, ghats, various
related to nature. Through this puja, sources of water, all are cleaned at
the importance of sunlight in our the community level. The festival
life has been illustrated. Along with of Chhath is also an example of
this, the message has also been ‘Ek Bharat- Shreshtha Bharat’.
conveyed that ups and downs are Today, wherever the people of
an integral part of life. Therefore, we Bihar and Purvanchal are in any
should maintain a uniform poise in corner of the country, Chhath is
every situation. Various fruits and being celebrated with great pomp.
Thekua are offered in the worship Chhath is now getting organized
of Chhath Maiya. The fasting in this on a large scale in different
is also not less than any difficult districts of Maharashtra along with
sadhna. Another special thing Delhi, Mumbai and many parts of
about Chhath Puja is that the items Gujarat. I do remember that earlier
used for worship are prepared in Gujarat, Chhath Pooja was not
by myriad people of the society performed to this extent. But with
together. In this, a basket or supli the passage of time, the colors of
“I pray that Chhath
Maiya blesses
everyone with
prosperity and
well being.”
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