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Patna, Oct 27 (IANS) The bathing ghats and ponds of Ganga in Bihar capital Patna are all set for the grand celebration of Chhath Mahaparva, the festival of devotion and purity dedicated to Surya (Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya. The first Arghya will be offered to the setting Sun in Purvashada Nakshatra on Monday evening, while the second Arghya will be offered to the rising Sun in Uttarashadha Nakshatra on Tuesday morning.
This year, devotees will offer prayers at 78 ghats in Patna (city), also 60 artificial ponds will be created to ensure smooth conduct of rituals and prevent overcrowding at the Ganga ghats.
According to Pandit Ram Narayan Shastri, it is considered auspicious to offer Arghya to the setting sun half an hour before sunset and to the rising sun immediately after it turns red.
Auspicious yogas like Ambhayacharya and Amlakriti on Tuesday morning will further enhance the importance of the festival.
On Sunday, the second day of Chhath Mahaparva, devotees performed Kharna Puja with reverence and devotion.
After sunset, they consumed prasad (ritual food offering) made of raw rice, Ganga water, milk, kheer made of jaggery, flat bread and bananas served on banana leaves.
This marked the beginning of his 36-hour long waterless fast.
Patna district administration has made elaborate arrangements for security and crowd management and 187 Bluetooth-enabled cameras have been installed at 35 major ghats to ensure real-time monitoring of the situation.
Overall, Chhath festival is being celebrated at 550 ghats across the district, representing the traditions of 444 communities.
Medical teams including physicians and health researchers have been deployed at all primary health centers in both urban and rural areas to deal with any medical emergency.
A wave of devotion and enthusiasm can be seen throughout Bihar.
Huge crowd is being seen at Dev Surya Temple in Aurangabad and Ular Surya Temple in Patna district.
Overall, arrangements have been made at 8,500 Chhath ghats across the state.
Special instructions have been issued to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), which are deployed at sensitive locations to ensure the safety of devotees.
Patna Municipal Corporation has also taken up the responsibility of cleanliness, lighting, barricading at dangerous ghats and setting up medical camps.
Authorities have appealed to devotees to remain vigilant, keep their belongings safe and avoid unsafe or slippery areas near river banks.
–IANS
ajk/red