Chaurchan Festival, Mithila, Janakpur

After Chhath, Chaurchan Parva or Chauthchandra Parva is recognized as the second biggest festival in the Madhesh region. On this day, devotees fast throughout the day, and in the evening, they perform rituals to worship Ganesh and the Moon.

In the evening, devotees offer kheer (sweet rice pudding), puri (fried bread), fruits, and other items to Ganesh and the Moon. After sunset, they decorate the courtyard by plastering it with cow dung and creating artistic designs using rice flour. They place the ritual items on these designs and perform the worship ceremoniously.

On this occasion, new clay pots are used to offer yogurt, bananas, sweets, and various delicacies. Additionally, there is a tradition of listening to the stories of Ganesh and the Moon. According to religious belief, the festival was initiated by the renowned astrologer and ruler Hemangad Thakur, who established the belief that performing Chauthchandra brings special blessings.

This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the Terai districts such as Dhanusha, Mahottari, Siraha, Sarlahi, Saptari, Bara, and Parsa. It is also observed in some states of India. The festival concludes with the consumption of the offered items as prasad and their distribution among family and friends.

छठपछि मधेशमा दोस्रो ठूलो पर्वका रूपमा परिचित चौठचन्द्र पर्वमा आजका दिन व्रतालु दिनभर उपवास बसेर साँझपख गणेश र चन्द्रमाको विधिपूर्वक पूजा गर्छन् ।

व्रतालुहरूले साँझपख गणेश र चन्द्रमालाई खीर, पुरी, फलफूल आदि प्रसादको रूपमा अर्पण गर्छन् । सूर्यास्तपछि आँगनमा गाईको गोबरले लिपेर चामलको पिठोबाट कलात्मक अरिपन बनाई, त्यसमा पूजाका सामग्री राखेर विधिपूर्वक पूजा गर्न

यस अवसरमा माटोको नयाँ भाँडोमा दही, केरा, मिठाई र विभिन्न पकवानहरू चढाइन्छ । साथै, गणेश र चन्द्रमाको कथा सुन्ने प्रचलन पनि छ । यो पर्वको प्रारम्भ प्रख्यात ज्योतिष तथा तत्कालीन नरेश हेमांगद ठाकुरले गरेको धार्मिक मान्यता छ, जसले चौठचन्द्र गर्नाले विशिष्ट फल प्राप्त हुने विश्वास स्थापित गरेका थिए ।

धनुषा, महोत्तरी, सिरहा, सर्लाही, सप्तरी, बारा, पर्सा लगायत मधेशका जिल्लाहरूमा यो पर्व विशेष उल्लासका साथ मनाइन्छ । भारतका केही राज्यहरूमा पनि चौठचन्द्र पर्व मनाउने प्रचलन रहेको छ । पर्वको अन्त्यमा चढाइएको प्रसाद ग्रहण गर्ने र इष्टमित्रलाई वितरण गर्ने परम्परा रहिआएको