Introduction
This Term Paper attempts to study about ‘The Impact of Globalization on Chhath’. Chhath is the greatest festival of Mithila people. The festival is celebrated both by the Mithila people in India, Nepal and around the world. ‘Previously it was limited to India & Nepal, but now, from last four years it is being celebrated in England too.’ (chhathpuja.com) “The Hindu festival, Chath that is known for its unique association to Mithila. It is devoted to the worship of the Sun God. It is, therefore, also known as Surya Shashti. The festival begins on the sixth day of the month of Kartik (from late October to mid November ). It is one of the holiest festivals for Mithila, and rest part of Nepal and India and extends four days long- First day is called Nahay Khay, second day is Kharna, third day is surya asta arpan(sajhuka arga) and fourth day , the last day is called by surya uday puja.” (mithilaart.net) As Jha (1990) observes that- “Chath is being celebrated since the evolution of Mithila and Maithils. It is the greatest festival of Mithila culture.”
While discussing about globalization, Held observes that-“Globalization is a multi-dimensional process. It applies to the whole range of social relations-cultural, economic and political. Its effect can be seen in all aspects of social life from the food we eat and the TV we watch, to the sustainability of our environment.” Globalization has its impact on each & every aspects in one way or the other. It can be said that nothing is untouched with globalization. Even the food patterns of the people have been changed and western food habits have been adopted in the name of globalization. Cultures have also effected by globalization. Among many festivals & cultures, Chhath, a national festival of Nepal & India is also one of them which is not free from globalization. Previously, Chhath was not electronic friendly and mass mediated but nowadays it has became as matter of special concern for the media and became e-friendly by the excessive use of electronic equipments during the festival. So, a vast difference can be seen in Chhath of ten years ago and Chhath of today and it is due to globalization & its impact
Discussion:
Before, discussing about the impact of globalization, I would like to discuss about the four days. From the very first day females and males take part in this festival and take an early bath, and they are not allowed to eat any types of impure food items as stated in Hindu religion. In second day, devotees do Kharna, the day in which worship Chathi mata and prepares 'Kheer' made from rice, aspartame (treacle) and milk, and eat after worshiping chathi mata. They are not allowed to eat any other things they like and they do not eat any salty food materials. In the third day, after 3 PM, the devotees come to the pond or river with all 70 types of food materials & fruits to offer the god sun. Sugarcane & Banana are considered to be the main fruit of this festival.
Chhath, a Mithila Culture is being benefitted a lot by the impact of Globalization. Before, 20 years, people were not being able to send wishes, saying 'Happy Chath' by the means of SMS from mobile phones. It is the boon of advancement of information technology, which made Chhath global and reduces the boundary. Similarly, by emails, chats, and internet, Nepali and Indians wishes happy Chhath to each other. So, Chath has become electronic friendly. Premarshi (2009) observes that- “Globalization has not affected Chath negatively rather it made Chath Global. Global in the sense that it is celebrated in Nepal, Uttar Pradesh & Bihar previously but nowadays it is being celebrated even in Maharastra and Souths of India. And who knows, it would be celebrated in all over the world in coming years.” Nepalis and Indians living in England celebrated the festival there this year, and it became the main news of Aajtak , the greatest news channel of India. It is due to the Impact of Globalization, Chhath became Global from local. Chath is a festival which
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In present, the importance of this festival is seen great. When we assimilate the messages of this festival, then its importance increases. It is advocating for the conservation of nature, for the neat and clean environment and for clean and green water resources where water should be pollution free. If we clean our water resources in the time of Chhath at least, water pollution can be controlled to an extent. It is not celebrated in polluted water. It need a clean water resources, either it is pond or river. The environmentalists want to make Chhath environment friendly and global, which is also an impact of globalization. Premarshi in Jha. J, argues that-“The slogan of globalization in Chhath can only be achieved if we have a little devotion toward nature. We should celebrate Chhath for cleanliness of water resources too. We should fight against pollution and in the name of Chhath; Hindus should unite and come forward against water pollution by the means of Chhath to make the festival global.” In the name of being global, the people bombard Crackers as maximum they can. It is the negative Impact of globalization on Chhath. Mithila cultures do not allow people to bombard crackers in the Chhath, Crackers is only for Dipawali (Tihar).
Jha, R (2010) believes that-“Chhath diminishes the gap between rich and poor. It is a festival advocating for Socialism”. Rich people also offer 'Thakuwa and Bhuswa', the main food offered to god, prepared from floor and even poor devotees also offer the same food material. All come to a pond or river bank and worship the god together. ‘Dum', the lowest caste of Terai, prepares pots of bamboo sticks in which food & fruits are kept. And even Dum worship the god with the people who are considered to be of great castes in the same line with same food items, they prepared in their home with same devotion, in this way caste difference boundary is collapsed, so this is the festival of socialism and communism where there is no class & caste difference. Globalization as working for change, global democracy, global village and global peace, Chhath is also advocating for global peace and global socialism in this regard.
If we look the celebrating pattern of Chath in Nepal and India, there are no any differences. Politically there is a difference; Chath plays a great role in Indian politics. We can see its impact in Maharastra. Many Biharis and North Indians beaten by Marathis & staffs of Bala Thacrey because they celebrated their festival in Maratha's land, which is indigestible for them. In Nepal Chath does not bring any political flame; Nepalis are very liberal in accepting each other's culture. That’s why Chath is celebrated in all the regions of Nepal and even the mountainous people also celebrate Chhath these days, which strengthens the communal harmony and also makes the festival global.
CONCLUSION
There is impact of globalization on Chath in many grounds. For an example, before we don’t have SMS technology to wish Chath but today we have it, which is the impact of globalization. Previously, wishing were done by letters and meeting each other, which was time consuming. But now time & space has been compressed, wishing message is sent in a click around the world. The use of Crackers, socialism in chath where there is no caste & class difference & making the festival global is all seems to be the impact of Globalization. So, Chhath is a festival of worshiping the god Sun to give good health, wealth and well being of the family and there is impact of globalization in many ways.
REFERENCES
Jha, G. (1990). Mithila sanskriti aa ekar mahatwa [Mithila culture & its importance]. Patna: Bharati Bhavan publication.
Jha, J. (2010, November 11). Yo parvalai samyabadi parva pani manna sakincha. saptahik Bishwadeep,P.3.
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