Kathmandu. This year’s Chhath festival has concluded with offerings to the rising sun at the historic Ghadiyaarwa Pokhari in Birgunj. The Chhath festival was celebrated by the devotees standing in the pond since early morning and offering Arghya to the rising sun.

On the first day of the Chhath festival, which is celebrated every year from Kartik Shukla Chaturthi to Saptami, the devotees took a bath and ate pure blue. This ritual of the first day is called ‘Nahay-Khay’ in the local language.

On the second day of the Chhath festival, which is mainly worshiped by the Sun God, on the fifth day, the devotees fasted throughout the day and ate only kheer cooked in the night and performed the ‘Kharna’ ritual. Similarly, the Chhath festival, which is celebrated for four days on the sixtith of the day, i.e. Sunday evening and today in the morning, has concluded with the offering of Arghya to the sun.

Care should be taken very carefully while preparing the puja materials and offerings for the Chhath festival. During this festival, it is customary to offer Arghya to the Sun with thekuwa, bhusuwa, sweets made from wheat and rice flour, curd stored in earthen pots, sugarcane, seasonal fruits, Kosiya Kurwar and other worship materials. It is believed that worshiping the sun cures skin diseases, brings progeny and wealth ।

Image: Nepal Photo Library