Mahottari, Nov. 15: This evening, devotees are offering arghya to the setting sun as part of Chhath, a major festival grounded in popular faith. Observed on the sixth day of Kartik’s bright fortnight, the festival finds devotees observing a waterless fast after completing the Kharana ritual on Saturday night.
Celebrated over four days in Mithilanchal and other parts of the country as well, Chhath began last Friday, Kartik Shukla Chaturthi, with the ‘Nahay-Khay’ ritual. On Kartik Shukla Panchami, devotees fast throughout the day. In the evening, they offer the family deity kheer prepared with jaggery and then eat it as prasad. This observance is called ‘Kharana’. After Kharana, devotees traditionally begin their waterless fast.
During Chhath, people worship the Sun God and his wife, Shashthi, also known as Chhathi Devi. This evening, the first arghya is offered to the setting sun at ghats beside sacred water bodies. In Mithila, this ritual is called ‘Sajhiyaarakh’ or ‘Sajhiyaghat’. Families prepare festival sweets, including thekua and bhusuwa, for the offerings. Devotees will present prasad, coconuts with their husks, bananas and other fruits to the Sun God.
After the evening offering, they traditionally spend the night beside the water, singing songs in praise of Chhathi Devi and the Sun. Early Monday morning, before sunrise, they will stand waist-deep in the water and await the sun’s appearance. The festival ends with an arghya offering to the rising sun. In Mithila, this morning ritual is known as ‘Bhoraka Arakh’ or ‘Paaran’. It is believed that worshipping the Sun and Chhathi Devi fulfills wishes, brings happiness and prosperity, blesses families with children, and offers protection from illness and disease
