What to Read in Indian Express Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1: Chhath Puja: What makes this festival so dear to Purvanchal heart

Context:

Chhath Puja, one of the most ancient and eco-spiritual festivals of India, is celebrated with deep devotion primarily in the states of Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, and among Purvanchal communities across the country. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya (the goddess of energy and fertility), the festival symbolizes purity, discipline, and a unique harmony between humans and nature.

Historical and Cultural Background:

• The origins of Chhath Puja are deeply rooted in the Vedic age, when the Sun was revered as the life-giver and source of energy.
• References to Surya worship appear in ancient scriptures like the Rig-Vedaand the Mahabharata, where Droupadi and the Pandavas are said to have performed Chhath to regain their lost kingdom.
• Over centuries, the practice evolved into a structured ritual observed mainly by women, although men also participate actively.
• In its present form, Chhath Pujarepresents the continuity of ancient solar traditions in India’s cultural mosaic.
• Unlike many Hindu festivals centered on idols or temples, Chhath is performed on the banks of rivers, lakes, or ponds, reinforcing the sacred connection between divinity and nature.

Chhath Puja spans four days of intense austerity and devotion:

• Nahay-Khaye: Devotees bathe in a river and prepare a simple, vegetarian meal cooked in a pure environment.
• Kharna:A day-long fast is broken at sunset after offering kheer and fruits to the deities.
• Sandhya Arghya (Evening Offering): Devotees offer prayers to the setting Sun while standing in water, accompanied by folk songs and chants.
• Usha Arghya (Morning Offering):On the final day, offerings are made to the rising Sun, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life and gratitude for sustenance.
• These rituals emphasize self-purification, simplicity, and ecological awareness, with offerings made only from natural ingredients such as sugarcane, fruits, and home-cooked Prasad.

Social and Cultural Significance:

• Chhath Puja transcends religious boundaries and serves as a social equalizer.  The rituals are performed collectively, with no distinction of caste, class, or gender.
• Every devotee stands together in the same water body, reinforcing the idea of equality before nature and the divine.
• For migrant communities from Bihar and eastern UP, especially those living in metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, Chhath serves as a cultural anchor.
• It reconnects them with their roots, providing emotional belonging amid urban alienation.
• The communal organization of Chhath ghats in cities also demonstrates the power of diaspora communities in preserving intangible cultural heritage.

Environmental and Ethical Dimensions:

• In an era of climate crisis, Chhath Puja carries profound environmental lessons.
• The festival promotes eco-friendly practices use of biodegradable materials, protection of water bodies, and respect for natural cycles.
• The strict fasting, cleanliness, and pollution-free rituals reflect a sustainable lifestyle based on moderation and gratitude.
• Moreover, the worship of both the setting and rising Sun symbolizes the acceptance of duality—light and darkness, success and failure an ethical philosophy rooted in balance and humility.

Challenges in Modern Times:

• Despite its eco-friendly ethos, modern celebrations often witness pollutionand overcrowding at riverbanks due to urban expansion and lack of civic facilities.
• The need for proper waste management, crowd control, and preservation of water quality during the festival has become crucial.
• Government and civic agencies increasingly collaborate with local communities to ensure safe and clean celebrations.

Way Forward:

Chhath Puja is not merely a festival; it is a civilizational expression of India’s timeless relationship with nature, discipline, and social harmony. Its rituals combine spiritual devotion, environmental ethics, and social unity, offering lessons relevant to contemporary society.  For the Purvanchal heart, Chhath remains an affirmation of faith, identity, and gratitude, a celebration of life sustained by the Sun and nurtured by nature.

 

Editorial 2: The Chimerica Challenge

Context:

As Washington and Beijing recalibrate ties amidst growing competition and selective engagement, Asian countries like India find themselves navigating a complex geopolitical environment. This dynamic and emphasizes that India must adopt a proactive, pragmatic, and regionally anchored foreign policy to safeguard its interests.

Background:

• Describe the deep economic interdependencebetween China and the United States where China’s manufacturing power complemented America’s consumption-driven economy.
• This synergy shaped the global order for nearly three decades after the Cold War, creating unprecedented trade growth and integration.
• However, growing distrust, technology competition, and security anxieties have fractured this arrangement.
• The US now views China not as a partner but as a systemic rival. The resulting reconfiguration of global alliances, especially in the Indo-Pacific,is reshaping Asia’s strategic future.

Flux in US–China Relations:

• Former President Donald Trump’s earlier confrontational trade warand tariff policies against China, followed by the Biden administration’s focus on technology restrictions and security alliances, represent a continuity in Washington’s China policy.
• Meanwhile, China under Xi Jinping has sought to strengthen regional influence through economic diplomacy and initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)and the Global Security Initiative.
• Trump’s renewed engagement with Asian allies like Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN during his 2025 tour, coupled with signs of a limited détente with China, reflect a “competitive coexistence.”

Implications for Asia:

• Asian countries remain anxious about the oscillating US approach, whether it seeks confrontation or accommodation with China.
• This ambiguity generates strategic insecurity, especially for middle powers and regional economies dependenton both the US security umbrella and Chinese trade networks.
• The Indo-Pacifichas emerged as the principal theatre of this rivalry. Institutions like QUAD, AUKUS, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) illustrate Washington’s intent to counterbalance Beijing.
• However, these coalitions’ sustainability depends on consistency in US policy, something that has historically fluctuated with political changes in Washington.

India’s Strategic Dilemma and Opportunity:

• For India, the shifting tides in the US–China relationship present both risks and opportunities.
• As China deepens its assertiveness across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and in South Asia, New Delhi’s cooperation with the US and its allies becomes strategically vital.
• However, India must also maintain autonomy and avoid being drawn into a zero-sum confrontationthat limits its policy flexibility.
• India should move beyond reactive diplomacyand adopt a more “proactive regionalism”, engaging ASEAN, Africa, and the Indian Ocean littorals to shape the surrounding balance of power.
• Strengthening economic resilience, expanding defence partnerships, and investing in technology alliances should complement India’s geopolitical strategy.

Policy Recommendations for India:

• Strategic Balancing: Maintain close coordination with the US and QUAD members while engaging in calibrated dialogue with China to prevent escalation.
• Economic Diplomacy: Deepen participation in regional trade and technology frameworks to offset China’s influence.
• Maritime Strategy: Strengthen presence in the Indian Ocean and collaborate with ASEAN for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
• Autonomous Foreign Policy: Uphold India’s tradition of strategic autonomy by balancing ties with multiple poles of power, including the EU, Japan, and Russia.
• Institutional Capacity: Build think tanks and policy institutions to anticipate shifts in great-power politics rather than merely respond to them.

Way Forward:

For India, the task is to navigate this flux without compromising sovereignty or regional leadership. As Asia becomes the principal stage for great-power competition, India’s ability to combine prudence with initiative will determine its role in shaping the 21st-century balance of power.