डा. दिपक चौधरी:
चाडपर्व मानव सभ्यताका धरोहर हुन । चाडपर्वहरुले मानवको इतिहास र गौरव बोकेको हुन्छ भने यसले भविष्यको आशा पनि जगाउने गर्दछ । आसन्न दिपावली/तिहार, म्हपूजा तथा छठ पर्वहरु यही भूमिको मौलिक पर्वहरु हुन । यि पर्वहरु यहँका समुदायहरुको जनजीवीकासँग जोडिएको हँदा यसको आफ्नै महत्व छ ।
दीपावली दीप प्रज्जोलित गरेर मनाइने पर्व हो । यो खेतीपाती भित्राउने बेला पर्ने हुँदा यसको कृषि तथा ग्रामीण अर्थतन्त्रसँग विशेष सम्बन्ध रहेको देखिन्छ। यो पर्वलाई दुख तथा अन्ध्यारोबाट उज्यालो तर्फको यात्राको रुपमा अर्थाउन उपयुक्त हुन्छ । यसमा विभिन्न जनावर, चरा, तथा अन्नवालीको समेत पूजा गर्ने हुँदा यसलाई मानव, प्रकृति र इश्वरको सम्बन्धको रुपमा पनि अर्थाउने गरिन्छ । आश्विनको अन्तिम तथा कार्तिक महिनाको शुरु तिर पर्ने यो पर्व ५ दिनसम्म बिभिन्न कृत्यहरु गरी मनाइन्छ । पहिलो दिनमा सूचना तथा खबर ल्याउने रुपमा मानिदै आएको कागको पूजा गरिन्छ । सोही दिन तराइमधेशमा धनतेरस मनाइन्छ । यि दुई एक दिन यता वा उता पर्छ । यस दिन विशेषगरी चाँदीका सिक्का तथा भाडाहरु ल्याउने र पूजा गरिन्छ । यसका पछाडिको कारणमा चन्द्रमा दाहिने हुन्छ भन्ने मान्यता हुनसक्छ । दोस्रो दिन कुकुरको पूजा गरिन्छ । कुकुरले घरको सुरक्षा तथा पहरेदारी र नराम्रो वस्तुहरुलाई घरमा छिर्न दिदैंन भन्ने मान्यता रहेको पाइन्छ । तेस्रो दिन धनको प्रतिक देवी लक्ष्मीको पूजा गरिन्छ । यस दिन घरको सरसफाई तथा गाउतिर गोबरले लिपपोत गरि घरआँगन पवित्र बनाइन्छ । दीयोबाती बाली घरलाई झिलीमिली गरी सजाउने चलन छ ताकि घरमा लक्ष्मीको प्रवेश तथा वास होस् । पूर्बी तराइमधेशतिर यस दिनलाई सुखरात्री अर्थात सुकरातीको रुपमा पनि मनाइन्छ । यस दिन पूर्बी तराइमधेशतिर हुक्कापाती खेल्ने चलन छ । हुक्कापाती सन्ठी, सनपात र खरबाट बनाइन्छ । रात्रीकालीन समयमा हुक्कामा आगो लगाई खेत तिर फाल्ने गरिन्छ । यसबाट खेत उब्जाउ हुन्छ भन्ने मान्यता रहेको पाइन्छ । यसबाट नराम्रो कुरा पनि मर्ने विश्वास गरिन्छ । चौथो दिन गोवर्धन पूजा गरिन्छ । काठमाडौंको नेवार समुदायमा आआफ्नो शरीरको पूजा गरिन्छ जसलाई म्ह पूजा भनिन्छ र सोही दिन नेवारहरुमा नया वर्षको शुरुवात भएको मानिन्छ । गोरुको पूजा तथा खेतीपातीसँग जोडिएका वस्तुहरुको पनि पूजा गर्ने चलन पाइन्छ । ५ औ दिनमा भाइटीका मनाइन्छ । यसमा दाजुभाईले दीदी बैनीको हातबाट टीका लगाउने चलन छ । एक कथा अनुसार मृत्युका राजा यमराजले यमुनाको भाईलाई लिन आउँछ । यमुनाले भाइकोलागि विभिन्न रंगको टीका, मखमली फूलको माला, तोरीको तेलको घेरा र दीयो बाली भाइलाई टीका लगाई भाइटीका मनाउँछिन । र यमराजलाई उसको भाइको टीका नखुइलेसम्म, फुल नसुकेसम्म र तेल नसुकेसम्म नलान आग्रह गर्छिन । यो देखेर यमराज प्रभावित हुन्छ । यसरी दीदीबैनी र दाजुभाइको दीर्घायु तथा सुस्वास्थ्यको कामनाको रुपमा भाइटीका रहेको छ । पूर्बी तराइमधेश तथा मिथिलातिर यसलाई भरदुतिया पनि भनिन्छ । यसमा चारैतिर चामलको पीठोले रंगोली जस्तै बनाई बिचमा काठको पीरकामा दाइभाईलाई राखी टीका लगाउने चलन छ । यसमा पान सुपाडी र मखानको प्रयोग पनि हुन्छ । पहाडतिर भैलोदेसी खेल्ने चलन छ । यसको शुरुवात किराती राजा बली तथा बाली हांग राजाले मृत्यबाट विजय पाएको खुशीयालीमा देउसी भैलो खेल्ने चलन भएको मानिन्छ । भैलोको अर्थ सहयोग गरौं र देउसीरे को अर्थ पूजारी राजा भन्ने इतिहास छ । हाल यो धेरै ठाँउमा खेलिन्छ । यस चाड पर्वको समयमा मधेशतिर कुश्ती खेल खेल्ने चलन पनि छ । पहाडतिर गाइगोरु जुधाउने चलन पनि पाइन्छ ।
लक्ष्मी पूजाको आर्थिक पक्ष पनि छ । यो मूलत कृषि अर्थतन्त्रसँग जोडिएको मानिन्छ । यसमा प्रयोग हुने माटोको भाडाहरु स्थानीय स्तरमा नै बनाइन्छ । त्यसैगरी मूर्तिहरु बनाइन्छ । यसले स्थानीय शिल्पीकारहरुको महत्वलाई दर्शाउछ । यसमा प्रयोग हुने तेल, धागो, रंग, पिठो, धान, चामल, पान, ओखर, मिठाई, पान। मखान, दुधदही, बासका वस्तुहरु, तथा परिकारहरुले सामाजिक आर्थिक र वातावरणीय उत्पादनको पक्षलाई जनाउँछ । मूर्ति तथा पेन्टिगंले कलासंस्कृतिको मौलिकतालाई पनि जनाउँछ । यि चाडपर्वहरुमा प्रयोग हुने खाद्यान्नहरुमा विशेषगरी धान, चामल, गेडागुर्डी, चिउरा, आदिले जमानाको कृषि उत्पादनलाई बुझन पनि सघाउँछ । लक्ष्मी पूजालाई पूँजीसँग जोड्न सकिन्छ र देशको अर्थतन्त्रको सन्दर्भमा पनि चाडको विशेष अर्थ रहेकोको रुपमा बुझन सकियो भने देशको अर्थतन्त्र सकारात्मक रुपमा जान सघाउँछ । यही शुभकामना ।
छठ–
छठको उत्पत्ति तराई/मधेश/मिथिला भूमिबाट भएको हो र यसले तल्लो तहको समुदायको सामाजिक-सांस्कृतिक जीवनलाई प्रतिबिम्बित गर्दछ। छठ कहिलेदेखि मनाउन थालिएको हो भन्ने बारे स्पष्टता छैन । यद्यपि यसलाई मनाउने पद्दति, बर्ग तथा समूह र तिनको समर्पण हेर्दा यो धेरै पहिल्यैदेखि बनाउन थालिएको प्रष्ट हुन्छ । यो जीवन र जीवनयापनसँग कुनै न कुनै रुपमा जोडिएको जस्तो देखिन्छ । सूर्यको पूजाको इतिहास केही नभएका होइनन् । तर पानीमा बसेर सूर्यको पूजा गर्ने चलन कम छ । छठ यस मध्येको पर्व हो । रिग्वेदमा सूर्यको स्तुतिगान भेटिएता पनि छठको उल्लेख छैन । हिन्दुमा योगको सन्दर्भमा सूर्य नमस्कार पाइन्छ । बुद्दले ज्ञानको सन्दर्भमा प्रकृतिको नियमको कुरा गर्नु भएको छ र यसको बुझाईबाट मात्र जीवन बुझन सकिन्छ भन्नु भएको छ । इजिप्टमा सूर्यलाई रा तथा अमेरिकी आदिवासी इन्डियनहरुमा सूर्यनाचको रुपमा मान्नै चलन रहदै आएको इतिहास छ। सूर्य शक्ति र उर्जाको महत्वपूर्ण स्रोतको रुपमा रहेको हुँदा यसको पूजा हुन थालेको विश्वास गरिन्छ। मिथिलाको मौलिक पर्व छठ जीवन, स्वस्थ्य र प्रजननसँग सम्बन्धित मानिन्छ । पानीमा उभिएर अस्ताउन लागेका र उदाउन लागेको सूर्यलाई अर्घ दिइन्छ र सूर्यको बैनी छठी मैयाको समेत पूजा गरेर यो पर्व ४ दिनसम्म मनाउने गरिन्छ । छठमा ठेकुवा मुख्य प्रसादी को रुपमा रहदैं आएको छ । यो पर्व प्रकृतिसँग मानिसको सम्बन्धलाई लिएर जोडिएको रुपमा हेरिन्छ । यो पर्व मनाउनेमा महिलाहरुको अंहम भूमिका रहन्छ र यसलाई तिनको एजेन्सीको सन्दर्भसँग जोडेर हेर्न सकिन्छ । यो नदी खोला तथा पोखरी तलाउको किनारमा मनाइन्छ । यो पर्व समाजका तल्लो भन्दा तल्लो वर्गका मानिसहरुले मनाउने गर्दछन । काठमाडौंमा नेपालको तराइमधेशका सामाजिक स्तरको पीध तथा परिश्रमीमा गनिदै आएका मानिसहरु छठमा जसरी पनि आफनो घर जाने गर्दछन् । त्यो भनेको किसानी, कामदार मानिसहरुसँग यो पर्व विशेष जोडिएको छ । यसरी यो पर्व यहँको मौलिक पर्वको रुपमा रहेको छ । छठको तराईमधेशीहरुको सांस्कृतिक तथा सामाजिक पहिचानको रुपमा मात्र रहेको छैन यो राष्टिय सन्दर्भमा पहाड मधेश जोड्ने पर्वको रुपमा पनि व्याख्या हुदै आएको छ ।
तसर्थ चाडपर्वहरुले अध्यारोबाट उज्यालोतर्फ जान सहयोग गरोस । र देश पनि उज्यालो पथतर्फ अग्रसर होस् ।
शुभ चाडपर्व .
English Version(Trans & Edited)—
Deepawali:
Festivals are the heritage of human civilization. Festivals carry the history and pride of humanity and also inspire hope for the future. The upcoming Deepawali, Tihar, Mhapuja-Newyear and Chhath festivals are the original festivals of this land. These festivals have their own importance as they are connected to the livelihood of the communities here.
Deepawali is a festival celebrated by lighting lamps. Since it falls during the time of bringing in crops, it seems to have a special connection with agriculture and rural economy. This festival is suitable to be interpreted as a journey from sorrow and darkness to light. Since various animals, birds, and crops are also worshipped in it, it is also interpreted as a relationship between humans, nature, and God. This festival, which falls towards the end of Ashwin and the beginning of Kartik, is celebrated for 5 days with various activities. On the first day, the crow, which is considered to be the bringer of information and news, is worshipped. On the same day, Dhanteras is celebrated in Tarai Madhesh. These two also fall on one day or the other. On this day, especially silver coins and utensils are brought and worshipped. The reason behind this may be the belief that the moon (fortune) is in the right direction. On the second day, dogs are worshipped. It is believed that dogs protect and guard the house and do not allow bad things to enter the house. On the third day, Goddess Lakshmi, the symbol of wealth, is worshipped. On this day, the house is cleaned and the courtyard is made holy by covering it with cow dung. It is customary to decorate the house with diyobati and lights so that Lakshmi enters and resides in the house. In eastern Tarai Madhesh, this day is also celebrated as Sukhratri or Sukrati. On this day, in eastern Tarai Madhesh, it is customary to play hookah. Hookah is made from sandhi, sandalwood and khar. At night, the hookah is lit and thrown towards the field. It is believed that this makes the field grow. It is also believed that bad things will die from this. On the fourth day, Govardhan Puja is performed. In the Newar community of Kathmandu, one’s own body is worshipped, which is called Mha Puja, and on this day, the Newars consider the beginning of the new year. There is also a custom of worshiping the cow and worshiping objects related to agriculture. On the fifth day, Bhai Tika is celebrated. In this, it is customary for brothers to apply tika from the hands of their sisters and brothers. According to one story, Yamaraj, the king of death, comes to take Yamuna’s brother. Yamuna celebrates Bhai Tika by offering tika of different colors, garlands of velvet flowers, mustard oil rings and lamps to her brother. And she requests Yamaraj not to take his brother until the tika fade up, the flowers dry up and the oil dries up. Seeing this, Yamaraj is impressed. Thus, Bhai Tika is held as a wish for the long life and good health of the sister and brother. In eastern Tarai Madhesh and Mithila, it is also called Bhardutiya. It is customary to make a rangoli with rice flour on all sides and place the brother on a wooden piraka in the middle and apply tika. Pan supadi and butter are also used in this. In the hills, there is a tradition of playing Bhailodeusi. It is believed that its beginning was the tradition of playing Deusi Bhailo in celebration of the victory of the Kirati kings Bali and Bali Hong kings over death. Bhailo means “let’s help” and Deusire means “priest king”. Currently, it is played in many places of Nepal. During this festival, there is a tradition of playing wrestling in Madhesh. In the hills, there is also a tradition of fighting cows and bulls.
Lakshmi Puja also has an economic aspect. It is considered to be basically linked to the agricultural economy. The clay pots used in it are made locally. Similarly, idols are made. This shows the importance of local craftsmen. The oil, thread, paint, flour, rice, betel nut, walnut, sweets, betel nut. Butter, milk curd, household items, and dishes used in it indicate the aspect of socio-economic and environment. Idols and paintings also indicate the originality of art and culture. The food items used in these festivals, especially rice, rice, gerani, chiura, etc., also help to understand the agricultural production of the time. No pundit or priest is needed for this. Lakshmi Puja can be linked to ‘capital’ formation and if the festival can be understood as having a special meaning in the context of the country’s economy, then the country’s economy can go positively.
Chhatha:
Chhath traces its origin to the Tarai/Madhesh/Mithila land and embodies the sociocultural life of the grassroots community. It is not clear when Chhath started being celebrated. However, looking at the method of celebrating it, the groups and groups and their dedication, it is clear that it has been celebrated since a long time ago. It seems to be connected to life and livelihood in some way or the other. The history of worshiping the Sun can be seen worldwide. However, the worshiping sun through water is rare, and it is a Chhatha. The hymns in praise of the Sun are found in the Rigveda, but, there is no mention of Chhath. In Yoga, Surya Namaskar is found. Buddha has talked about the laws of nature in the context of understanding the human life. In Egypt, the Sun has been considered as a god by ‘Ra’ and American Native Indians enjoys with Sundance. It is believed that the Sun is an important source of power and energy, so it is worshipped. The original festival of Mithila, Chhath, is considered related to life, health and fertility. Argha is offered to the Sun standing in water and about to set and rise, and this festival is celebrated for 4 days by worshipping Chhathi Maiya, the sister of the Sun. ‘Thekuwa’ has been the main offering during Chhath. This festival is seen as a connection between humans and nature. Women play a significant role in celebrating this festival and this can be seen in the context of their agency. It is celebrated on the banks of rivers, streams and ponds. This festival is celebrated by people from the lowest class of society. In Kathmandu, people who are considered to be the backbone and hardworking people of the social level of Tarai Madhesh of Nepal go to their homes anyway during Chhath. That is, this festival is especially associated with farmers and workers. Thus, this festival is a unique festival here. Chhath is not only a cultural and social identity of the Tarai Madheshis, it is also interpreted as a festival that connects the hills and Madhesh in the national context.
Therefore, may the festivals help us move from darkness to light. And may the country also move towards the bright path.
Happy festivals.
