BIHAR
Sun worship popular since Vedic period: Experts
Modern youth might wonder why is Chhath puja, the tradition of worshipping the setting and rising sun, so popular in Bihar and adjacent regions alone when sun worship happens to be an important part of mythology and folklore in every ancient civilization of the world.
According to historians, every known civilization shows evidence of sun worship by the people for their well-being as it was considered most essential for their survival. But, the sun worship in the form of Chhath puja became quite popular in Magadh region during the Gupta period (319-550 AD).
Magadh University’s retired professor of history, Asha Tripathi, holds that the people of Magadh region, which has been the birthplace of two important religions — Buddhism and Jainism — have always been rebellious in nature.