AGARTALA, Nov 20 (TIWN): Along with the nation, the auspicious Chhath puja is also observed with pomp and gaiety at Tripura on Tuesday. At about 20 places the puja is observed in Tripura. Chhath, the four-day long festival when devotees take holy dips, fast and pray to the sun, has begun. Primarily celebrated in Bihar and Jharkhand, Chhath is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in the region. It is also one of the most difficult pujas to perform, due to its many rituals and strict fasting.

'Chhath' is a celebration of the sun; devotees stand in rivers to offer prayer and thanks every sunrise and sunset.

The Chhath Puja is performed in order to thank Surya for sustaining life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes. This festival is observed by people living in Nepal and India (mainly in the State of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

The Sun, considered as the god of energy and of the life-force, is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. In Hinduism, Sun worship is believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and helps ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders.

The rituals of the festival are rigorous and are observed over a period of four days. They include holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water (Vratta), standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prashad (prayer offerings) and arghya to the setting and rising sun. Thousands of people gathers at the river bank and offer prayers to the goddess.

Although the festival is observed most elaborately in Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern UP, it is also more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a presence, like in Tripura. It is celebrated in Tripura with huge fun and frolic.  In Tripura the festival is mainly observed at Khejhurbagan along with several other spots.

Chhath puja is also one of the important festivals celebrated in the entire north east as 5 to 6 percent of population in NE consist of people of the western India who migrates here from their native land for different purpose.