🌼 Randhan Chhath 🌼

💐Significance Of Randhan Chhath:💐

               Randhan Chhath holds great significance in the Hindu calendar and is dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, Surya. The festival is a time to express gratitude to the Sun God for his role in sustaining life on earth. The Sun God is revered for his ability to provide energy, vitality and nourishment. Observing Randhan Chhath is believed to bring spiritual growth, good health and prosperity. The festival also emphasises the importance of discipline and devotion. By following the rituals and praying sincerely, devotees seek to purify their souls and strengthen their connection with the divine. Randhan Chhath is a reminder of the important role nature and divine forces play in our lives and the importance of acknowledging and respecting these forces. 

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🌲Two different dates:🌲  

            Randhan Chhath is celebrated at two different times in Gujarat. In parts of Gujarat, especially close to Maharashtra, Shravan Shukla Paksha (Shravan Sud chhath– bright/waxing phase of the moon) is preferred. In Saurashtra, Shravan Krishna Paksha (Shravan Vad chhath – dark/waning phase of the moon) is preferred. 

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💐Randhan Chhath Menu:💐 

                The food items prepared on this day have a shelf life of 24 hours. All the women of the family participate in cooking. Some people opt for spicy and fried food. The menu for this day varies from region to region. Nowadays, apart from regional flavours, people also prepare dishes that can last for a few days. 

  
               Laddus, Thepla, Meetha Dhebra, Parathas, different types of Shaak, Moonthar, Bajra Rotla, Sabudana Khichdi, Mamra, Vada, Tikka Dhebra, Sheera and Puri are prepared on this day. 

              The ashes of the chimney used for cooking are not touched.
  

             After cooking on Randhan Chhath, the earthen stove is cleaned with cow dung. The ashes remain on the stove. A cotton plant is planted on the stove. Then some curd is placed on the cooking surface. 

                There is a widespread belief that Goddess Sheetla Mata resides in the ashes, and she rolls on the ashes and blesses the house. 

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🍀History of Randhan Chhath:🍀

            According to religious belief, Lord Krishna’s elder brother Balram was born two days before his birth. This day, which falls on the Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada, is known as Randhan Chhath. Therefore, on this day also there is a law of fasting and worshiping the Lord. The ritual of fasting is performed by women. 

  
         This auspicious festival is also known by various names such as Halashti, Halachhath, Harchhath Vrat, Chandan Chhath, Tinchhi, Tinni Chhath, Lalhi Chhath, Kamar Chhath or Khamar Chhath. Also, special worship of the plough is done on this day. 

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🙏What do we do on the day of Randhan Chhath?:🙏 

• On the day of Sheetala Satam, there is a practice of eating cold food, due to which food is not cooked in the house on that day. Therefore, the women of the house cook on the day of Randhan Chhath. 
  
  
• All types of dishes are cooked before 12 o’clock and the stove is turned off before 12 noon. 
  
  
• After that the stove is worshipped. All the food is prepared before 12 noon, and the stove is worshipped.
   
• The next day, Sheetla Satam, starts after 12 noon. 
  
  
• A fair is also organized on this day at many places. It is a festive day. 
  
  
• On this day buffalo milk is consumed instead of cow milk. 
  
  
• Apart from this, the weapon ‘hal’ of Shri Krishna’s elder brother Balram is worshipped on this day. 
  
  
• After completing the fast, satvik food is eaten. 
  
  

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🍁Story related to Randhan Chhath🍁 
        

                     In a house, a woman lived with her two daughters-in-law. Both were blessed with a son. The youngest daughter-in-law was very simple, kind, and innocent. On the evening of Randhan Chhath, the youngest daughter-in-law started cooking food for the family. Her son was sleeping peacefully on the cot and started crying. She had not finished cooking and went to feed her son. 

  
                 As it was late at night, she was tired, and she fell asleep. She forgot to remove the embers from the stove. Traditionally on Randhan Chhath, Sheetala Maa visits everyone’s house and blesses the women by going to the stove. That evening when Sheetala reached Maa’s house, she became very angry on seeing the embers on the stove. As she is the “Sheetalak” goddess, she got badly burnt by the embers which were not removed by the youngest daughter-in-law. Sheetala Maa got angry and cursed the daughter-in-law that just as my body has been burnt, so will your sons be. In the morning, when the daughter-in-law woke up, she saw that her son was burnt to death. 

  
               Hearing the screams of the youngest daughter-in-law, the mother-in-law and her eldest daughter-in-law came running and saw the dead child. The mother-in-law said that you forgot to put embers at night and now you have got the curse of Sheetla Maa. Her mother-in-law suggested that she take the child and immediately look for Sheetla Maa, apologize, and ask for her blessings to help her son. She took her baby in a basket to find the goddess. 

  
                 During the journey the daughter-in-law saw two lakes, she was very thirsty. When she went to drink water, she heard voices from the lake telling her not to drink the water as it was cursed. Any animal, bird or person who drinks this water will die. It was poisoned. The lakes asked the daughter-in-law where are you going? And why are you crying? The daughter-in-law told the lakes that she is going to ask Sheetla Maa to apologize and save her son. The lakes asked the daughter-in-law for help and said that when they meet Sheetla Mata, they must ask her why the water of their lakes is poisonous. 

  
                   The daughter-in-law moved forward. There she saw two bulls, they had a heavy flour grinding stone tied around their neck and they were fighting all the time. They asked her where are you going? She told them her story that she has set out to search for Sheetla Mata to save her son. The bulls asked her to ask Sheetla Mata why we keep fighting all the time? They told her that they must have done something wrong in their previous life, as the flour grinding stones were painful and very heavy. They asked her to help Sheetla Mata solve their problem. 

  
                   The daughter-in-law kept moving forward. She found an old woman whose clothes were dirty sitting under a tree. Her hair was disheveled, and she was scratching her head. The woman asked the daughter-in-law to come and look into her hair. The daughter-in-law put the basket with her child on the floor. The woman told the daughter-in-law that she was really bothered by her itching, due to which she was feeling restless. The daughter-in-law had a big heart and cared for everyone. So, she started sawing the heads of the old woman. She removed a lot of lice. 

  
                 The woman was very grateful and felt relieved. She blessed the daughter-in-law and hoped that her wishes would be fulfilled. Suddenly lightning flashed and darkness fell in front of her eyes. Then she saw Sheetala Maa standing with a live laughing smiling baby in her lap. The daughter-in-law apologized to Sheetala Maa for her mistake and Sheetala Maa blessed her. Sheetala Maa raised her hand and blessed the daughter-in-law and gave the smiling baby back to her arms. 

  
                 Then the daughter-in-law told Sheetala Maa about the two lakes. She has asked for your help from me to solve her problem. Sheetala Maa told the daughter-in-law about their previous births and said that both were very clever women who used to give milk and butter mixed with water to everyone. They did many more mean deeds. They are suffering for their misdeeds. Then Sheetla Mata told the daughter-in-law to take water from the lakes and sprinkle it in all four directions by changing the name of Mera and then drink some water. They will be freed or their sins, after this the lake will become safe for animals, birds and people to drink. 

  
                    The daughter-in-law then asked about the two bulls why they keep fighting and had to be rubbed with these heavy grinding stones. Sheetla Mata said that in their previous life they both were sisters-in-law, if people came to them for help they would just get their own selfish things done. So, in this present life they were burdened with heavy stones and they kept fighting. Sheetla Maa told the daughter-in-law to go to the bulls and remove the grinding stones and then they will live happily. Sheetla Mata then disappeared in the air. 

  
                   On her journey back home with her smiling son in a basket. After this the daughter-in-law went to the bulls. He put the child down and removed the heavy stones from the bulls’ necks. The bulls bowed down because they were so grateful, they stopped arguing and were peaceful without the weight of the grinding stones. 

  
                  Then he continued his journey to the two lakes, he followed Sheetala Ma’s instructions and sprinkled water in all four directions and drank a little. He was not harmed by the water and life returned to the lakes, animals and birds enjoyed the pure water, and people began to use it. 

                   Then the daughter in law went home and smilingly placed the baby in the lap of her mother in law and father in law. They were all so happy. The eldest daughter in law became very jealous and did not like the praise and attention the youngest daughter in law was getting. 

  
                  The eldest daughter in law also wanted to meet Sheetla Maa and get her blessings. Also wanted to get praise and attention from her mother in law. She started cooking on Randhan Chhath and deliberately left burning embers on the stove and went to play with her baby and then went to sleep. 

  
                  As a year ago Sheetla Maa had come and got irritated with the burning embers. She cursed the eldest daughter in law whose son was burnt to death. The next day morning the eldest daughter in law woke up screaming and was shocked to see her son dead. Her mother in law advised her to go and find Sheetla Maa and get her blessings and ask for forgiveness, as she was cursed by Sheetla Maa for leaving burning embers on the stove. 

  
                       The eldest daughter in law carried her baby in a basket during the visit. She came across two lakes, she was thirsty. The voice of the lakes told the lady not to drink the water as it was poisoned, and she would die. They asked the lady why are you crying and where are you going? She replied very rudely that she was going to see Sheetla Maa remove a curse and told them that it was none of their business where she was going and what she was doing. They asked for her help to ask Sheetla Maa to remove the poison. The eldest daughter-in-law rejected this request saying I am going to solve my problems, not yours. She was very rude and continued her journey. 

  
                    Just then the eldest daughter-in-law saw two bulls fighting. The bulls were worn out by the heavy flour grinding stones, the elder daughter-in-law looked at them. They called her and asked her why she was crying. After knowing the whole thing, they asked for their help. The eldest daughter-in-law rudely replied, “I don’t have time to solve my issues” and continued her journey. 

  
                    The eldest daughter-in-law continued her journey and saw a dirty woman scratching her head under a tree. The woman called the elder daughter-in-law and asked for her help to check her head to find out why it was itching so much. The elder daughter-in-law angrily replied that you see for yourself I am not like you. Then she took the child in the basket and continued her journey to search for Sheetala Maa. 

  
                   The eldest daughter-in-law did not find Sheetala Maa, and then returned home, her son still lying dead in the basket. Their family undone the cremation ceremony. The eldest daughter-in-law lived a very unhappy and unfulfilled life, but the youngest daughter-in-law lived a fruitful and happy life with the blessings of Sheetala Maa and her kind heart. 

  
                    It is believed that observing this fast brings long life and prosperity to the child. May Mother Sheetala maintain peace and coolness in your home and life. 

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