Chhath Puja was celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal in North India. However, students at Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi, hailing from these regions, found themselves unable to go to their hometowns for Chhath celebrations due to impending exams. Then, they decided to celebrate it within the campus.
Celebrating Cultural Unity At Jamia Millia Islamia: Chhath Puja Festivities
The Chhath Puja celebration at Jamia Millia Islamia was a testament to the students’ spirit of unity and camaraderie. Despite being away from their homes and families, they found a way to connect with their cultural roots and celebrate the festival together. Their efforts showcased the inclusive and diverse nature of Jamia Millia Islamia, a place where students from all over the country come together to learn and grow while preserving their traditions and heritage.
The Rituals of Chhath Puja: A Four-Day Celebration Across India’s Heartlands
Chhath Puja is a 4-day festival celebrated across India, mainly in regions like Purvanchal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand. On the first day of Chhath, also known as Nahaye-khaye, people take an early morning bath and have a special meal. On the second day of Chhath, called Kharno, a special roti or chapati with special sweets is consumed, and from the evening of the second day, people begin fasting for the next 36 hours. On the third day of Chhath, i.e., arag, people offer water to the sun in the evening, and on the last day of Chhath, people perform pooja of sun early in the morning and break their fast with fruits.
Students Unite At The Centenary Gate
On the fourth day, 20th November, students from various departments did pooja at the centenary gate of Jamia Millia Islamia. The program was celebrated under the banner of Purvanchal Sahayata Samiti, which is headed by Divya Jyoti Tripathi from the Department of Economics, Hanzala Khan from the Department of Sociology, Pushkar Kumar from the Department of Political Science, Aryan Tripathi, Aditya Annand, Amit Singh and Praveen Kumar from Mass Media.
Lokgeet, Prasad Vitran, & Camaraderie In Focus
Various Programs like Lokgeet (folk song), Prasad Vitran (Sacred food distribution), and a get-together were witnessed. In an Exclusive talk with DNN24, A student of B. A (Hons) Mass Media Aryan Trapathi said this was celebrated to spread unity, harmony, and brotherhood among our classmates. We felt great and did not feel like we were away from our family. Jamia is like our new home and the people here are my brothers and sisters.
A Tradition Of Celebrations
Another student, Pushkar Kumar from the Department of Political Science, said it is not the first time we are celebrating any festival at Jamia; earlier this year, we celebrated Holi, and a few days back, we organized a Diwali fest in which we distributed sweets and lit candles and diya.
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