AGARTALA, October 29 (TIWN): Agartala along with the rest of the country celebrated Chhath Puja today with all the traditional gaiety and fervour as scores of devotees thronged Khejurbagan here to offer their prayers to the Hindu Sun God, Surya. Chhath is an ancient Hindu festival and only Vedic Festival which is performed in order to thank Surya for sustaining life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes.

According to Hindu mythology, the Sun, considered the God of energy and of the life–force, is worshipped 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. It includes holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water (Vratta), standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prasad (prayer offerings) and arghya to the setting and rising sun.

Chhath Puja is performed on Kartika Shukla Shashthi, which is the sixth day of the month of Kartika in the Hindu Calendar. This falls typically either in the month of October or November in the Gregorian Calendar. It is believed that the Maga Purohits (modern days known as Shakya Dwipi Brahmins) were invited by local kings for their expertise in Sun worshipping. They started the tradition of Chhath Puja. It is believed that the ritual of Chhath Puja may even predate the ancient Vedas texts, as the Rigveda contains hymns worshipping the Sun God and describes similar rituals.