Chhath festival started in India from 5th November. Today is the third day of this four-day festival. The worship of the third day is also called Sandhya Arghya. This festival is celebrated both in India and in many countries around the world. However, due to a small initiative by IPS officer Ashish Kumar, a resident of Jamui district of Bihar, there is an echo of the Chhath festival among citizens of 54 countries who speak and understand French.
Ashish Kumar wrote a detailed article in French on the importance and worship of Chhath. In such a situation, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), an organization of the Government of India that works to promote cultural relations with other countries, published Ashish Kumar’s article in French language in a book titled “rencontre avec l ‘Inde’ in 2013.
Ashish Kumar has written this in the book.
People who understand the world in French feel comforted by knowing and understanding the great festival of India, Chhath, with the help of the book “Rencontre avec l’Inde”. Ashish has written in detail about all aspects of Chhath festival in French in the book. In the book he wrote that the festival of Chhath is a festival of worship of Lord Surya. This festival lasts four days and during this period religious, social, physical, mental and moral-practical purity is maintained.
I went to Bihar for a study tour 15 years ago.
Ashish has written all aspects of the festival celebration rituals in the book. Apart from this, is the scientific importance of the festival the basis of staying in water while worshiping the Sun? What is the idea behind offering Arghya to the setting and rising sun? What is the meaning of the soup and the puja route? All of these aspects have been written about. IPS Kumar Ashish is currently the Saran cadre SP of Bihar. According to information received from Ashish, when he went to France on a study tour 15 years ago, he told some interesting things about Bihar to some French-speaking people. During this time he also told people about Chhath Mahaparva. This greatly influenced the French people. In such a situation, after returning to India, Ashish researched about Chhath and wrote an article “Chhath Pouja: l’adoration du Dieu Soleil” which fully explains the great Chhath festival. This book was later published in French.
