Saturday, 18 November 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Chhath Pooja started with the ritual of Nahay Khay on Friday in Dehradun. This festival, which lasts for four days, is dedicated to Lord Surya and Chhath Goddess, and its preparations begin a day after Deepawali. The president of Bihari Mahasabha Lallan Singh explained the significance of each day of the festival. He said that on the first day, devotees take a bath in the morning and pay obeisance to the sun.
Chhath fasts are observed and raw rice, arhar daal and gourd vegetables are cooked on a new earthen stove. After saluting the sun god devotees eat the Prasad after offering it to the lord and the goddess. On the second day, the Kharna ritual is observed and devotees eat Kheer and roti after fasting the whole day. On the third day, after fasting for 24 hours, the devotees offer arghya to the sun in the evening and conclude the festival with the arghya to the rising sun on the fourth day, he said.
He further said that it is believed that observing a fast on this festival and performing all the rituals with faith and devotion brings happiness and prosperity to families. He also added that on the first day of the pooja, there was an atmosphere of excitement and activity in households, as everyone was busy preparing for Chhath. Parents were occupied with collecting prayer offerings from the market, devotees were busy taking the first phase of the fast and teenage children were busy ensuring cleanliness at the ghat. He said that the making of “Shri Sopta” was completed at all Chhath Ghats on Friday.
