Mahendranagar (Dhanusha), Oct 25: Chhath festival has formally begun in Mithila from today onward. The ponds and river premises in Janakpurdham are being decorated for the celebrations of Chhath – the grand festival of Mithila. Decorations are being carried out at Gangasagar, Argajasar, Dashrath pond, Dhanushsagar, Matkorva pond, and other places, informed Harinarayan Gupta, chairperson of the Gangasagar Chhath Committee.
He shared that cleanliness is also being maintained at the ponds and river-based areas as part of the preparation for Chhath celebrations. Similarly, Virendra Karn, secretary of the committee constructing the Chhath sites in Argajasar, said they have stepped up preparation for Chhath festival since Dashain end.
Coordination with the police has also been done for law and order, he shared. The festivals celebrated in the Mithilanchal region are entirely rely on domestic production, so wheat, rice, and other agro items produced in their own fields are arranged for the festival.
The Chhath festival is celebrated for four days from today onward. During this four-day festival, devotees must fast without food and water for two days.
On the first day of the festival, today, it will be ‘Nahay-Khay’. On the second day, Sunday, the devotees will fast throughout the day and in the evening prepare ‘rice-pudding (kheer)’, offer it to the deities and then eat it. This ritual is called ‘Kharna’.
Similarly, on the main day, Monday, various traditional dishes made from the flour of agricultural grains like thekua and bhuswa are prepared, and in the evening, offerings are made to the setting sun to pay homage.
Likewise, on the final day of Chhath festival, Tuesday morning, the festival concludes by offering prayers to the rising sun.
