Thousands of devotees gathered to offer morning prayers to the rising sun on the last day of Chhath Puja on Saturday. Most people across the country adhered to the traditional practice of offering prayers on the banks of the river on the final day of the four-day Puja, violating the guidelines issued to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19 ).
The banks of the Gomti River in Lucknow, the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi and Patna, and other places in Mumbai, Delhi and Bhubaneswar were packed with devotees despite Covid-19 restrictions, according to the ANI news agency. However, many devotees chose to stay home to offer ‘arghya’ to the rising sun of temporary bodies of water, made specifically for the festival within their campuses.
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Bihar Prime Minister Nitish Kumar also held the festival at his official residence. He offered ‘arghya’ to the setting sun, a tradition he has been following since he became the CM 15 years ago, but refrained from going out to take stock of the ghats as he used to do before, PTI reported. Chief Deputy Minister Renu Devi also performed Chhath in his hometown Bettiah.
The four-day Chhath Puja celebration period, dedicated to the Sun God, includes rituals known as Prathihar, Dala Chhath, Chhathi, and Surya Shashthi.
On the first day, ‘Nahay Khay’, a traditional meal, is prepared and served in the afternoon. On the second day of Puja, the worshipers observe ‘Nirjala Vrata’ (fasting without drinking a drop of water) and break their fast only at night after worshiping the sun during sunset. The third day of Puja is called ‘Sandhya Arghya’ and the devotees again observe a one-day fast and break it only the next day after sunrise.
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The festivities conclude on the fourth day after the devotees perform the ‘Usha Arghya’ (offering prayers to the rising sun). Chhath Puja is celebrated on the sixth day of the Kartik month of the Hindu calendar, which is also the fourth day after Diwali.
(With contributions from the agency)
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