Prayagraj : Festivities continued in the city with the preparations for Chhath celebrations. The markets wore a colourful look on Thursday as devotees rushed to buy traditional puja items for the four-day festival beginning on Friday.
This marks the beginning of a 36-hour-long fast without water. Stay updated with the latest Prayagraj news.
Noted religious scholar Dr Amitabh Gour says, “Chhath Puja is dedicated to Sun God – the god of energy and the life force. Ghats at Sangam and Yamuna river banks have also been cleaned and decorated to welcome devotees while cops reviewed security and traffic arrangements and placed barricades at Sangam nose and other ghats to regulate the crowd. Special parking arrangements have also been made. The district administration and Prayagraj municipal corporation are working to spruce up the ghats and clean the areas around the river banks to ensure no inconvenience is faced by the devotees. People thronged the markets in Chowk, Leader road, Civil Lines, Katra, Dhoomanganj and other areas for Chhath purchases. Devotees bought apples, bananas, oranges, coconuts, sugarcane, beans, watercress, turmeric, radish, ginger plants, and other fruits and green vegetables for offering to the goddess Chhath Mata. Bamboo baskets to keep offerings, earthen lamps, bamboo or brass vessels were also purchased. Women devotees observe a rigorous fast and pray to Sun and Goddess Chhathi for well-being, prosperity, and progress of their family. They offer argha to Sun and Chhath mata. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines The celebrations are particularly vibrant in old city areas where families come together to observe the rituals with devotion. The festival is celebrated with much fervour in the eastern UP districts, Bihar and Jharkhand. On the first day, devotees observe ‘Nahay-Khay’ in which they consume a pure, sattvic meal (arwa rice, bottle gourd curry, and split Bengal gram or chana dal). On the second day, devotees observe fast without water (nirjala) for the entire day and in the evening consume rasiyav (kheer made with jaggery) and roti as prasad. On the third day, devotees offer Sandhya Arghya to the setting Sun at the banks of a river or pond. On this night, the traditions of Kosi Bharai and deepotsav are observed. On the fourth day, devotees offer arghya to the rising Sun and consume the prasad, ending the fast. Download the TOI App.
Meanwhile, Prayagraj junction and CMP (MG road) bus station too witnessed a heavy rush on Thursday as passengers travelled to their hometowns for Chhath Puja . The festival will begin with Nahay Khay on Friday, followed by Kharna, Sandhya Arghya, Usha Arghya and Paran.