Melbourne’s Chhath Puja celebration made history this year, with an impressive turnout of approximately 1,400 participants gathering for Sandhya Arghya (evening offerings) and over 500 joining the morning prayers, an outstanding attendance for an event held on a weekday.
The festivities, organised in Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane by the members of Bihar Jharkhand Sabha of Australia and New Zealand, reflected the vibrant and dedicated community that honours this ancient festival in the Southern Hemisphere.
Garima Shrivastav, Secretary of BJSM, shared enthusiasm with The Australia Today, stating,
“With such success, we are confident that next year’s Chhath will be even grander, and we eagerly look forward to the next celebration.”
The dedication of volunteers was instrumental in organising this year’s celebration, underscoring the deep sense of devotion and cultural pride that transcends borders.
Chhath Puja is a significant Hindu Vedic festival, primarily celebrated in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Madhya Pradesh, as well as in Nepal.
Devotees honour Surya Dev (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya (Mother Goddess) twice a year, during the Indian months of Chaitra (March-April) and Kartika (October-November).
The Kartika celebration, six days after Diwali, is particularly cherished in Bihar.
Over six days, women sing traditional songs, wear colourful attire, and celebrate with abundant joy, symbolising the festival’s central themes of faith, family, and gratitude.
The Bihar Jharkhand Sabha of Australia and New Zealand, which began in Melbourne, has expanded to major cities across Australia and New Zealand, including Canberra, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Darwin, Perth, Auckland, and Wellington, generating strong interest among the Indian diaspora.
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