Over 1.5 lakh women worship setting sun in Bhilai
| Date :03-Nov-2019 |
Staff Reporter :
Bhilai, As many as 1.5 lakh women performed ‘Chhath Puja’ on Saturday evening, six days after ‘Diwali’ by offering ‘ark’ to the setting sun at different water bodies of Steel City Bhilai especially of pond situated at Sector 2, Sector 7, Hudco, Ramnagar, Nehru Nagar and Powerhouse. A fair-like atmosphere was witnessed at all of the water bodies in the Steel City.
The people burst crackers, illuminated their houses and organised langars. Some special artists arrived from Bihar also performed bhajans of this festival near water bodies. Even people of other state had taken a fancy to the festival. They participated in it, some out of political compulsions and others just out of curiosity. It is learnt that Chhath puja is marked by rigorous fasting for two days during which even drinking of water is prohibited. Chhath is performed by married women for the welfare of their children as well as husbands. People from Bihar, while talking to this newspaper said the real name of this festival was ‘Ravi Khashti Vrata’, meaning a fast for Sun observed six days after Diwali.
They traced the origin of the fast to the days of Mahabharata and claimed that even Kunti used to observe it. After offering the ‘ark’ to the setting Sun, a ceremony called ‘Kosi’ is held with puja as well as Chhath hymns. Then ‘ark’ will be offered to the rising sun on Sunday after which the fast will end. Police has made special security arrangements in all of water bodies in the city where Chhath festival has been organised. Even some of politicians also visited these water bodies to wish people for this festival.