Devotees celebrated main day of Chhath Festival

The main day of the Chhath festival, where devotees observe rituals by worshiping the sun was celebrated yesterday. Devotees offered evening prayers, known as Sandhya Arghya, to the setting sun across various sacred water bodies throughout the riverbanks of Nepal.

The banks of the ponds, known as Chhath Ghats, were filled with worship materials. The ghats were meticulously cleaned and beautifully decorated for the occasion.

To celebrate the Chhath festival, devotees used items like dhaki (traditional drums), baskets, sugarcane, bananas, turmeric, ginger, lemons, radishes, coconuts, betel leaves, and various fruits. Clay figurines of elephants, pots, and new clothes for new devotees were also prepared for the ritual.

Devotees observed a strict fast today, abstaining from even a sip of water. In the evening, they went to nearby ponds, wells, or other water sources to worship the setting sun. They offered ritual items by immersing them in water, dedicating them to the Sun God.

The Chhath festival concludes today after offering prayers to the rising sun. Some devotees spent the entire night standing in the water, waiting for the sunrise to complete their prayers, while others offered prasad and left the water after the rituals.

Throughout the night, the areas around water bodies will be filled with devotional songs, hymns, and traditional dances. The festival includes not only worshiping the Sun God but also praying to Goddess Shashti for the well-being of children, husbands, and families. Devotees believe that observing Chhath Vrat fulfills all wishes and cures skin diseases.

Some devotees also crawl on the ground from their homes to the water bodies to take a holy dip and complete their fast. To fulfill their wishes, devotees may perform rituals such as placing clay elephants in ponds or lighting lamps.

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