Arghya will be offered to the setting sun on the ghats on Sunday

Raigarh : The joy of the major Chhath festival celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh has started spreading in Raigarh for the last 20 years. Earlier Chhath festival was celebrated with simplicity. Only a few family members used to participate in it, but in the last few years, grand events have started taking place. More than 40 thousand devotees gather to offer Arghya and worship on the banks of Chhath Ghat near Kayaghat, Kharraghat, Budhimai Mandir Pond, Sonumuda Pond, Bhagwanapur, Kokdirai Pond. Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, senior member of Bhojpuri society, Pawan Prakash Ojha, says that on the last two days of the four-day festival, thousands of people gather in devotion on the ponds, river banks.
Such a wave of faith and belief flows that the tunes of traditional Chhath folk songs echo throughout the night in Jagran. The sight of fireworks is worth seeing while offering Arghya to the setting sun and the rising sun. More than 40 thousand devotees are present in various Chhath Ghats of the city to receive Thekua Prasad and food in the Mahabhandare. Earlier, most of the people used to return to their native villages to celebrate Chhath festival. Those who could not go to their village due to some reason, used to offer Arghya in the ponds around their house. With the passage of time hundreds of families settled here permanently. Members of those families started celebrating Chhath festival in a small form at the river ghat near Labor Colony 50 years ago. Gradually the people of the society started getting organized. Now, the biggest event in 20 years is being held at Jute Mill and Kharra Ghat. People living in the villages surrounding the city also come here and celebrate the festival. Special arrangements are made for accommodation and food for those coming from outside. Cultural programs are organized throughout the night.

Manish Singh of Jutmil Chhath Pujan Committee said that the four-day Chhath festival started on Friday with the Nahay-Khay tradition. The families of North Indian community living in Raigarh took a pledge to celebrate Chhath festival with purity by taking bath in the morning. In the evening, the ritual of consuming gourd vegetable and roti was performed. Kharna ritual of purity was kept on the second day on Saturday. Chhath festival is the biggest symbol of cleanliness. The message of cleanliness is being given through festivals since ancient times. Special care is taken of purity while performing puja and preparing prasad. Offerings are made to the Sun God and Chhathi Mata. The rituals of Lohanda and Kharna were performed on 18th November, the second day of the festival. The entire family members followed the tradition of fasting throughout the day and eating kheer and roti at night. Consumed Kheer Roti and resolved to observe Nirjala fast.