Chhath Puja, a festival in which females fast to worship the Sun God, is to be nominated for the intangible UNESCO Heritage list, as the Union Ministry of Culture has written to the Sangeet Natak Academy to examine a proposal it has received in this regard and take suitable action. Notably, it is largely eco-friendly, involving no idol worship and focusing on natural elements.
Appeal for Chhath Puja to be added in intangible UNESCO Heritage list
In a letter written by the culture ministry to the Academy on August 8, a proposal by one Sandeep Kumar Dubey, Chairman, Chhathi Maiya Foundation, appealing to the central government’s initiative to ensure Chhath Puja to be added to the intangible UNESCO Heritage list. The chairman had written to Union culture and tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on July 24, conveying the uniqueness of Chhath, which is one of the biggest festivals of BiharIn the letter, he wrote, “Chhath is not just a religious ceremony; it is a living example of social harmony, environmental conservation, and women’s empowerment. It is a special festival that has continued since ancient times and amalgamates water bodies, Sun worship, and reverence for the maternal power.”
How is Chhath Puja celebrated?
The eco-friendly festival is mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand and parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, in which worship rituals start on the fourth day after Diwali, giving offerings to the Sun in the key water bodies, and around 36 hours of continuous fasting. Key emphasis is on cleanliness during the fasting period of the festival.