Question: Which of the following is the state festival of Bihar?
(a) Chhath Puja
(b) Durga Puja
(c) Deepawali
(d) Gudiya Puja
Answer:(a)
Related facts:
- The four days long auspicious Chhath festival worship of the Sun God began with ritual of Nahay Khaya.
- The rituals include holy bathing, fasting, standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prayers and food to the setting and rising sun.
- Chhath is a Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun god and his wife Usha in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth. The Goddess who is worshipped during the famous Chhath Puja is known as Chhathi Maiya (also known as Usha, wife of the sun god).
- The word chhath means sixth and the festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the month Kartika of the Hindu lunar Bikram Sambat calendar.
- The main worshipers, called Parvaitin, are usually women. However, many men also observe this festival as Chhath is not a gender-specific festival.
- The festival is observed most elaborately in Mithila Province of Nepal, Terai-Madhesh region of Nepal, Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and UP. It is also more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a presence.
Links:
http://newsonair.com/Main-News-Details.aspx?id=373813
https://www.jansatta.com/religion/chhath-puja-2019-puja-vidhi-shubh-muhurat-timings-puja-time-samagri-list-vrat-vidhi-vrat-katha-story-mantra-procedure-in-hindi-everything-you-need-to-know/1202666/?#liveblogstart
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhath