Thu Nov 07 23:43:39 UTC 2024: ## Chhath Puja Preparations in Full Swing Across Bihar
**Mahेशखूंट, Bihar:** The four-day-long Chhath Puja, a festival dedicated to the Sun God and celebrated with great fervor in Bihar, began on Tuesday with the ‘Nhaye Khai’ ritual. Devotees, primarily women, took holy dips in the Ganga River and offered prayers at temples, adorned in colorful attire.
The main attraction of the festival, the Chhath Maiya idol, will be consecrated on Wednesday night with Vedic chants at the Bannu Ganga Ghat. The ghat is being specially decorated for the devotees who will throng the area for prayers.
To ensure smooth flow and security, a magistrate and police personnel will be deployed at the ghat. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team will also be on standby to address any emergencies.
The ‘Kharna’ ritual will be observed on Wednesday, followed by the offering of ‘Arghya’ to the setting Sun on Thursday evening and the rising Sun on Friday morning. Devotees observe a strict 36-hour fast during this time.
**Preparations in Full Swing:**
* Several Chhath Ghats across the region are being prepared for the devotees, with lighting arrangements being made in some areas for better visibility.
* Traffic congestion is a major concern, especially at the Bannu Ganga Ghat, which attracts devotees from neighboring districts like Saharsa and Madhepura. However, no concrete measures have been taken by the local administration to address this.
**Political Leaders Join Festivities:**
* Sanjay Khandelwal, State Vice President of the BJP, distributed sarees to women observing Chhath in different panchayats of Khagaria.
* JDU District President, Bablu Kumar Mandal, along with other party leaders inspected various Chhath Ghats in Khagaria and ensured adequate arrangements for the devotees.
The atmosphere in Bihar is filled with devotion and anticipation as people prepare for the grand festival of Chhath.
First Piper 