Beneath the Sun: Unveiling the Ties between Spiritual Awakening and Development in Nepal

The book "Beneath the Sun: Equality for Everyone, the Spirit of Chhath Festival" by researcher Jivesh Jha has shed light on the intricate relationships between spiritual awakening, social, economic, environmental, and development aspects of the Chhath festival. Celebrated mainly in the Mithila region of Nepal and parts of India, the festival is gradually expanding across the country and abroad, promoting unity, togetherness, and equality among people of all classes and castes. The book highlights the festival's links to development goals, such as pollution-free soil and water, clean and green environment, and sustainable future, aligning with SDGs 1, 2, 3, 6, and 11.

Key Takeaways:

• The Chhath festival, celebrated in Nepal and parts of India, promotes social cohesion, fraternity, unity, and integrity, with devotees preparing similar "prasad" and items to offer the Almighty, regardless of class or caste.
• The festival's rituals are linked to development goals, such as pollution-free soil and water, cleaning of ponds and rivers, and prayers for agro-productivity, clean, and green environment for sustainable future.
• The book highlights the importance of local economy, with a mandatory use of locally produced things, discouraging imports and generating local earnings.
• The Chhath festival has significant economic aspects, including the use of bamboo products and local cuisine prepared in one's own kitchen, giving much priority and value to local production.
• The rituals of the five-day festival involve Maruwa-Machh Barnai, Nahay-Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya, and Usha Arghya, with different practices and paraphernalia required for each day.
• The book emphasizes the role of women devotees and their sacrifice and dedication in the festival, with rigid fasting of up to 36 hours and application of vermillion to impress the Chhathi Maiya.
• The festival is associated with environmental protection, building pollution-free atmosphere, and maintaining cleanliness of rivers and streams.

Statistics:

• The Chhath festival has been celebrated in Nepal and parts of India for centuries, with the book highlighting its expansion to hilly regions and abroad.
• The festival is mainly celebrated in the Mithila region of Nepal and the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, India, with the Kathmandu Valley observing it with fanfare.
• The author has divided the book into six chapters, with the first chapter introducing the Chhath festival, and the fifth chapter focusing on economic aspects.
• The festival's link to SDGs 1, 2, 3, 6, and 11 is highlighted in the book, emphasizing the importance of sustainable development.

Sources:

• "Beneath the Sun: Equality for Everyone, the Spirit of Chhath Festival" by Jivesh Jha (published last year)
• HT Digital Content Services with permission from Republica.