Chhath: Kharna rituals to be performed today
Date :19-Nov-2020
Devotees preparing Vedi where Chhatt rituals would be performed in the near vicinity of a pond at Sector-2 Bhilai.
(Pic by Bhopal Dewangan)
Staff Reporter :
BHILAI,
The four-day long Chhath festival, which is celebrated for the wellbeing of sons and prosperity of family, began on Wednesday with ‘Nahay-Khaye’ and it will conclude on Saturday morning. The five-day Diwali festival came to an end with the Bhai Dooj festival on November 16. And now, preparations for the Chhath Puja have begun in city. After Diwali celebration with great enthusiasm and fanfare, the people from Steel City especially those who are belonging from Eastern UP and Bihar have started celebrating Chhath festival. Devotees on Wednesday seen busy giving final touches to the Bedi of soil where they will offer prayers and flowers during the three-daylong period after which it is immersed in the nearby water body.
The preparations of the festival begin prior to Diwali with people avoiding every-thing that might bong impurities. As part of rituals of `Nahaye Khaye’, those keeping a fast rise early take a bath and new attires while those staying close to a river, take a dip in the holy waters to begin their vrat. After taking a bath, devotees do Sankalpa (take a pledge) that they would observe the vrat with devotion and sincerity. Then they take the blessings of the Gods and Chhati Maiya for a successful vrat.
Subsequently, they eat the first and the only meal of the day. All those who will observe fast relished special meal, which was prepared with Desi Ghee, Rice and Chana Dal. This is a traditional food which is considered as pure meal and after eating this meal no food is eaten till next day. In addition, city markets are flooded with all the essential paraphernalia, needed for Chhatt Puja, such as Kalash, Soops, Wheat Flour and Sugar, Coconut and Other Seasonal Fruits, Sugarcane, Earthen Lamps, Clay Elephant, Wide Mouth Earthen Pot and Copper Pot to offer jal.