Hazaribagh: The grand festival of faith, purity, and sun worship—Chhath—commenced on Friday with the ‘Nahay-Khay’ ritual. Preparations for this four-day observance are now in full swing. Traditional songs dedicated to ‘Chhathi Maiya’ (Mother Goddess Chhath) can be heard echoing in homes, while markets have been decked out with stalls selling items required for the rituals.
As part of ‘Nahay-Khay’, the women observing the fast bathed, offered prayers, and took a solemn vow to observe the ‘vrat’ (fast). They then partook in a satvik (pure/simple) meal consisting of pumpkin curry, split Bengal gram (chana dal), and arwa rice (sun-dried, unboiled rice).
Others also partook in the same satvik meal—pumpkin curry, chana dal, and arwa rice—as prasad (sanctified food).
Saturday will mark ‘Kharna’, during which the fasting women will observe a fast throughout the day and, in the evening, consume prasad consisting of gur (jaggery) kheer (rice pudding) and roti (flatbread). Following this, a 36-hour nirjala fast (a fast observed without even a drop of water) will begin.
On Sunday, *arghya* (offerings) will be presented to the setting sun. The fast will conclude on Monday morning with the offering of *arghya* to the rising sun.
This grand festival is observed with prayers for the happiness and prosperity of the family, the well-being of one’s children, and good health. In the district, songs dedicated to the Chhath festival can be heard near various Chhath ghats (ritual sites) in areas such as the local lake, Chhath Talab, Okni, Shivpuri, Noora, Matwari, Vishnupuri, Ramnagar, Katkamsandi, Katkamdag, Charhi, Vishnugarh, Chouparan, and Barhi.
