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Patna: Chhath, the great festival of faith and devotion to Sun God, started on Saturday with the ritual of ‘Nahay-Khay’.
Starting from Chaturthi Tithi (fourth day) of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month, Chhath Puja will end with offering Arghya to the rising Sun on Saptami Tithi (28 October).
The main ritual of ‘Sandhya Arghya’ (evening Arghya to the setting sun) will take place on October 27, followed by ‘Usha Arghya’ (morning Arghya) the next day.
This festival is being celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion throughout Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal.
On ‘Nahay-Khay’, devotees take bath in holy rivers and water bodies, clean their houses and kitchens and pledge to maintain purity in mind, speech and deed.
He prepared a simple Satvik meal of pumpkin curry, gram dal and rice, cooked on an earthen stove without onion, garlic or regular salt – a symbolic act of internal and external purification.
Devotees believe that the blessings of Chhathi Maiya begin from this day, and hence, the rituals are performed with utmost discipline and devotion.
During the four days of the festival, participants abstain from non-vegetarian food, alcohol and negative behaviour, emphasizing self-control and spiritual purification.
According to the Hindu calendar, ‘Shashthi Tithi’ will start at 6.04 am on October 27 and end at 7.59 am on October 28.
During this period, millions of devotees will gather on river banks and ponds to offer prayers to the Sun God, a tradition symbolizing gratitude towards nature, light and life.
Ghats across Bihar are being decorated and illuminated for the upcoming ‘Sandhya’ and ‘Usha Arghya’, marking the spiritual and visual climax of the festival.
The rhythmic sound of Chhath songs, lighting of lamps and devotional ‘aartis’ will transform the river banks into a divine sight in the next few days.
–IANS