Overview
- The four-day Chhath festival began on Friday with Nahay Khay, the ritual bath and sattvik meal that marks the start of worship of Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya.
- Devotees have gathered in large numbers at river ghats and ponds to prepare for Kharna on November 14, Sandhya Arghya at sunset on November 15, and Usha Arghya with Parana at sunrise on November 16.
- State authorities, social workers and volunteers report active inspections and crowd management at key ghats while political leaders offered public greetings to worshippers.
- Media outlets and guides are circulating step-by-step instructions for performing Surya Arghya at home and reminders about the 36-hour nirjala fast, traditional prasad such as Kaddu Bhaat, and health precautions for vulnerable devotees.
- Coverage highlights Chhath’s cultural practices and local economies, from bamboo soop and daura baskets to thekua and folk songs that carry the festival across generations.