Yamuna, 2018.03.22 (LY) People around Braj are gearing up to honour and celebrate the birth anniversary of Goddess Yamuna. Popularly known as Yamuna Chhath or Yamuna Jayanti, the festival is an important event on the Hindu calendar which is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. It is observed on Sashthi (6th day) of the Shukla Paksha or the waxing phase of the moon during the Hindu month of Chaitra. Every year, it falls during the month of February and March. This year, the auspicious day is on March 23. The festival is mostly celebrated in the north Indian states, especially Uttar Pradesh.
Yamuna Chhath attracts a lot of tourists. Every year, millions of people gather on the ghats of the Yamuna to offer prayers to the rising and the setting sun. With great devotion, individuals worship Goddess Yamuna and seek for happiness and success in their lives. Goddess Yamuna is known to be the companion of Lord Krishna. Hence, the day is also an occasion on which people remember to seek His blessings.
Significance of Yamuna Chhath
Yamuna Jayanti is celebrated with immense zeal, especially in Vrindavan and Mathura. In India, river Yamuna is considered to be a sacred river along with Ganga, Godavari, Brahmaputra and Saraswati. According to legend, River Yamuna descended on Earth during the Sashthi of the Chaitra month. Since then, this day is celebrated every year as the appearance anniversary of Shrimati Yamuna Devi.
Yamuna Chhath Celebrations
On this auspicious day, devotees get up early (before dawn) to take a spiritual bath in the Yamuna river. It is widely believed that taking a holy dip into the Yamuna river purifies the soul, enabling us to attain eternal joy and love. Some also observe a fast during Yamuna Chhath, breaking it the next morning after completing puja rituals.
On the occasion of Yamuna Jayanti, individuals prepare special food known as Naivedyam and offer it to the Goddess. Once the puja ceremony is done, the food is donated first to the Brahmins then distributed among friends and relatives as prasad. The festival is celebrated with immense fervour and enthusiasm, attracting visitors from every corner of the world.
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