Chhath devotees offered ‘Sandhya Arghya’ to setting Sun God on the banks of rivers and ponds across State on the third day of Chhath Puja, on Friday evening. The Chhath Puja is being celebrated following corona guidelines issued by the District Administration in State capital. Even after COVID-19 pandemic, excitement of Chhath devotees was at peak in Capital. Over 5,000 devotees reached Mahadev Ghat on Friday to celebrate Chhath Puja. However, over 20,000 had gathered last year during the Chhath celebration.

 

Devotees wearing face cover reached Mahadev Ghat, Chhuhiya Talab, Vyas Talab, Marine Drive and other ponds in Capital to offer ‘Sandhya Arghya’. Masks and sanitisers were arranged for devotees at Mahadev Ghat and other ghats in State capital. The devotees followed the corona guidelines during the Chhath Puja celebration.

 

Speaking to The Hitavada, President of Chhath Mahaparva Ayojan Samiti (CMAS) Mahadev Ghat Raipur Rajesh Kumar Singh said that Sandhya Arghya was held on the third day of Chhath festival. Usha Arghya will be offered on Saturday morning. Chhath devotees in large number are celebrating Chhath Puja in their houses and they have avoided visiting the ghats in view of COVID-19 pandemic this year.

 

Rajesh Kumar Singh said that Chhath festival is dedicated to the Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth and to grant their wishes. Social activist Ravindra Singh said the Chhath Puja is celebrated with religious fervour and enthusiasm in State capital. The Chhath Vratis in Raipur city have prayed for eradication of COVID-19 pandemic from the whole world. Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar participated in the Chhath celebration at Mahadev Ghat on Friday evening.

 

President Rajesh Kumar Singh, Ravindra Singh, Zone-9 President of Raipur Municipal Corporation Pramod Mishra, Parmanand Singh, Vipin Singh, Sunil Singh, Jayant Singh, Ramkumar Singh, Pankaj Agrawal, Vednarayan Singh, Ravindra Sharma, Sanjay Tiwari, Saroj Singh, Amlesh Kumar, Gorakhji, Ravikant, Sanjay Singh, Ajay Sharma, Manoj Singh, Ajit Upadhyay, Ranjeet Mishra and other members were present at Mahadev Ghat on the occasion. People, who migrated from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh to Chhattisgarh, are celebrating Chhath Puja in Raipur, Bilaspur, Bhilai, Jagdalpur, Korba, Mahasamund and other parts of State.

 

There is a large number of migrant population in State and the Chhath festival is now a major festival in State with the State Government announcing public holiday on Friday. The four-day Chhath Puja will conclude on Saturday.