Chhath Vratis offered ‘Sandhya Arghya’ to setting Sun at Mahadev Ghat along Kharun river and other water bodies across the state on the third day of the Chhath Puja, on Thursday evening. People in large number gathered at Mahadev Ghat along Kharun river on Thursday to celebrate Chhath festival this year. President of Chhath Mahaparva Aayojan Samiti Mahadev Ghat Raipur Rajesh Kumar Singh said that that Chhath Vratis had offered ‘Sandhya Arghya’ to setting Sun at over 50 water bodies including Mahadev Ghat in capital city Raipur on the Thursday evening. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Speaker of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Dr Raman Singh, Raipur Lok Sabha Member Brijmohan Agrawal, BJP leaders Sunil Soni, Sanjay Shrivastava, Congress leader Pankaj Sharma and others participated in the Chhath Puja programme at Mahadev Ghat. President of CMAS Rajesh Kumar Singh, Ramkumar Singh Rajawat, Ravindra Singh, Parmanand Singh, Muktinanth Pandey, Satyendra Singh Gautam, Kanhaiya Singh, Santosh Singh, Sunil Singh, Brajesh Singh, Rakesh Singh, Ajay Sharma, Shashi Singh, Anil Singh, Ved Narayan Singh, Ravindra Sharma, Sanjay Singh, Santosh Singh, Manoj Singh, Jayant Singh, Mukul Shrivastava, Ajit Singh, Pankaj Choudhary, and other members were present at Mahadev Ghat. Chhath Vratis also offered ‘Sandhya Arghya’ at Jhanjh Lake Nava Raipur Atal Nagar on Thursday evening.

 

A mesmerising cultural programme was held at Mahadev Ghat on Thursday evening. Maha-arti was held at Mahadev Ghat on Thursday evening. Renowned folk singer Kalpana Patowary of Mumbai, famous folk singer Gayatri Yadav (Lucknow), singer Parineeta Rao Patnaik of Mumbai, renowned Chhattisgarhi folk singer Dukalu Yadav and local artists performed at Mahadev Ghat and they enthralled the audience. Usha Arghya will be offered on Friday morning. A grand Maha Bhandara will be organised for devotees at Mahadev Ghat on November 8 morning. All kinds of facilities like parking, lighting and other facilities were arranged for devotees at Mahadev Ghat. It may be mentioned 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 request the granting of certain wishes. The rituals of the Chhath are rigorous and are observed over a period of four days.

 

The rituals of the festival include holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water, standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prasad and arghya to the setting and rising Sun. Some devotees also perform a prostration march as they head for the river banks. Bhilai too see vibrant Chhath celebration Bhilai: As part of the Chhath Festival celebrations, devotees gathered at bank of River Shivnath, lakes and other water bodies of the twin cities (Bhilai-Durg) to offer Sandhya Arghya (Prayer to sun) to the setting sun on Thursday. In evening hours, all of major water bodies saw a large number of worshippers, clad in traditional outfits, performing rituals and offering prayers to Goddess Chhathi Mayya and sun. It may be mentioned here that, the Sandhya Arghya is a noteworthy part of Chhath Festival, where devotees observe a strict fast, abstaining from food as well as water. In the evening, they gather to honour Sun God, for blessings of prosperity, health and harmony.

 

This observance continues through the night, as devotees maintain their fast until the final ritual of Usha Arghya at dawn. The crowd of devotees at all of water bodies reflected the community’s unity and devotion, as chants, hymns and offerings created a serene ambiance under the evening sky. The arrangements of various civic bodies including security, lighting and cleanup efforts, ensured a safe and smooth experience for all devotees. People gathered at large number and after performing all rituals, they exchanged greetings and this festival will be ended on morning of November 8 after giving morning arghya to Sun.