Everyone was trying to console me, when I lost my new specs, bought 2-3 days ago. I was upset but more than that I was disturbed by thinking that what would I say to my bestie. She didn't have much faith in God & worship. How will I explain to her that I lost my new specs when I went to attend my favorite festival "Chhath Puja".
Chhath Mahaparv, the only festival I eagerly wait for after Diwali. This festival is not celebrated across India, but the people who celebrate this have great faith and emotions with it. Every year when Chhath Mahaparv is near, I recall one of the incidents which happened with me during the celebration of Chaath.
In 2008, I was in the 11th Standard. I took a day off from school because an aunt in my neighborhood was going to celebrate Chhath Pooja for the first time. She wanted this first celebration to be memorable and hence had arranged Band Baja & All. When I told my bestie that I will not come to school tomorrow with you just because of Chhath Pooja, she made a little weird face and said "Ok, you enjoy your Chhathh Puja."
All the kids of my building, including the aunt's daughters, were very much excited. For the people who don't know about the festival, this is a festival celebrated in North India, especially in Bihar. Lord Surya is worshiped. It is celebrated over a period of four days. The first day is Nahay Khay, the second is Kharna, the third is Sandhya Argh, and ends on the fourth day with Bihanya Argh. We were all set to go for Sandhya Argh to Yamuna Ghat.
We reached Yamuna Ghat (Bank of River Yamuna in Delhi). I put on my new suit with my new specs. As there was Band Baja, I danced with full energy on the Dhol. When the time came to offer prayers to Surya, I went into the river with my sister and other girls to worship. We enjoyed playing in the river for some time and when our Moms scolded us for getting out of the river we came back. I was so happy to celebrate Chhath beside Yamuna Ghat for the first time. On the way back home, I was shocked to notice that my new specs were not on my eyes. I used to tuck my glasses into my suit collar, so I checked and it was not there. I asked my Maa and Didi if any of them had. But they denied it because I hadn't given them to keep. It was so crowded that it was impossible to go back and check. If it had been fallen on the ground then it must have been crushed under someone's feet. My happy face faded, my all happiness was gone. I bought new glasses just 2-3 days before and I had lost them. When my bestie will know this, she will make fun of me. "Go, celebrate your Chhath Puja". And this thought was disturbing me a lot.
When everyone saw me crying, they tried to console me and again I came back with my happy face and enjoyed further Puja at home. But deep inside, I was thinking about my specs :(. I had a hope that when I go for Bihanya Argh in the next early morning, I might find them. So, the next morning again I got ready to go to Yamuna Ghat. It was about 5 AM in November, cold and darkness all around. Though, there were lights around the Ghat. When I reached there, I was looking here and there in the hope of finding my specs. My sister laughed and said, "how will you see your glasses without your glasses". And she was right, I couldn't see my specs without my glasses in that artificial lights. Yet, I went to the places where I had gone last evening with my sister to find but didn't get anything. Finally, I accepted that I had lost it.
Again, the time came to offer prayers to Lord Surya (Rising Sun). I didn't want to go to the river this time, but all insisted so I agreed. The aunt's daughters and my sister went into the river and I was behind them. I was underwater till above my knees. I felt something beneath my feet and suddenly I exclaimed: "I got my Spex". I bent down and picked up. It was my specs. I waved my hand with my new lost specs and exclaimed, "Mera Chashma Mil Gaya". It was so loud that everyone's eyes were on me. All were surprised that I had finally got my specs and that was underwater after a full night without any damage. Everyone was saying I had a special blessing with me of Chhathi Maiya.
Whenever I recall that moment, I feel an energy inside me. For me, it was no less than a miracle. I don't know about others, whether that was a miracle or just a coincidence.
Happy Chhath Puja to all my readers. May Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya bless you and your family.