Hal Shasti

Hal Sashti also known as ‘Lalhi Shast’ or ‘Har Chatt’ is a Hindu festival that is dedicated to Lord Balaram, who was the elder brother of Sri Krishna. It is observed on the ‘sashti’ (6th day) of Krishna Paksha (the waning phase of moon) during the month of ‘Bhadrapada’ in the traditional Hindu calendar. The festival of Hal Sashti commemorates the birth anniversary of Lord Balaram and is celebrated with great zeal and gaiety all over India. It is celebrated six days after Shravan Purnima or Raksha Bandhan festival. In the state of Rajasthan it is observed as ‘Chandra Sashti’, in Gujarat this day is celebrated as ‘Randhan Chhath’ and in the Braj region it is known as ‘Baladeva Chhath’.

Significance of Hal Sashti:

The festival of Hal Sashti is dedicated to Lord Balaram and is also popularly called as ‘Balaram Jayanti’. He is known by different names as ‘Halayudha’, ‘Baladeva’ and ‘Balabhadra’. According to the Hindu legends, Balaram was the elder brother of Lord Krishna and also known to be one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu (Sri Maha Vishnu’s Dasavatara). Pestle and shovel were considered to be the main tools of Lord Balaram. Hindu devotees, especially those belonging to farming community, worship these sacred tools on this day for a bountiful harvest. Women observe the Hal Sashti vrat to be blessed with a male child and also for the well-being of their children. According to the Hindu legends, Uttara (from Mahabharata) on the advice of Lord Krishna, devotedly performed this vrat and recovered her destroyed womb. From then onwards the Hal Sashti vrat is believed to be helpful in Vansha Vridhi.

Rituals during Hal Sashti:

The festival of Hal Shasti is observed with immense dedication by the farming communities across India. The rituals of this festival are mainly performed by the women folk.
On the day of Hal Sashti, women get up at the time of sunrise and take an early bath. They then begin to make preparations for the Lalhi Chhath puja. The place of worship is first cleaned and then sanctified with cow dung. A small well is then prepared and stem of straw grass, palaash and a kind of reed is combined together to make a structure resembling a plough, the weapon of Lord Balaram. It is then worshipped by women for prosperity and good harvest.
During the Hal Sashti puja, devotees also worship the well with ‘Satavya’. A ‘Satavya’ is a combination of seven forms of grains namely, jowar, paddy, wheat, moong, gram, corn and lentil. A piece of cloth colored with turmeric paste is also placed near the plough and even worshipped. After the puja, devotees also recite the Hal Sashti vrat katha.
Women in the house keep a strict fast on the day of Hal Sashti. They completely refrain from eating anything all through the day. The observer of the Hal Sashti vrat does not even consume fruits or milk during the day. It should be noted that cow’s milk is not used on Hal Sashti and if required, only milk of buffalo can be consumed on this day.