Preparations continue on war footing at Ratoiya Ghat.
– Photo: Amar Ujala Digital
The great festival of faith ‘Chhath Puja’ will start from Nahay-Khay Tuesday, which will continue for the next four days. In Hindu religion, any festival starts with bathing and on this day, fasting women, after bathing and worshiping, accept Prasad made of pumpkin and rice. It will conclude with Lohanda-Kharna on Wednesday and Arghya to Astalchalgami Sun God on Thursday and sunrise Arghya on Friday. In which thousands of devotees will offer Arghya in the rivers of the district and rural areas. This festival of sun worship is celebrated from Chaturthi to Saptami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. Due to Surya Shashthi fast, it is called ‘Chhath’. This festival, which brings happiness, prosperity and desired results, is celebrated equally by men and women, but generally women are more in number among those observing fast. Songs have special importance in Chhath festival. During Chhath festival, melodious Chhath songs keep resonating from homes to ghats. Even when the fasting people go towards the water bodies, they sing songs of Chhath glory.
Chhath festival lasts for four days
Chhath festival starts from Chaturthi Tithi of Kartik Shukla Paksha and ends on Saptami Tithi. The festival starts with ‘Nahay-Khay’, on this day the devotees take bath and eat Arwa rice, gram dal and pumpkin curry. Rock salt is used in food on this day. On the second day of Nahay-Khay i.e. Kartik Shukla Paksha Panchami, the devotees fast the whole day, take bath in the evening, prepare Prasad of roti and kheer made of jaggery as per the rituals and worship Lord Bhaskar and take the Prasad. Which is called ‘Kharna’. Next day, after observing fast on Kartik Shukla Paksha Shashthi Tithi, in the evening, the devotees take thekua, fruits, reed and other prasad in a basket (daura made of bamboo) and go to the river, pond, or other water bodies and offer Arghya to the setting sun and the next day. On the day i.e. Saptami Tithi, in the morning, after offering Arghya to the rising Sun, they return home, take food and water and do ‘Paran’ i.e. break the fast.
