Mon Oct 27 01:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Chhath Puja Preparations in Chaibasa in Full Swing: Devotees Gear Up for Evening Offerings
Chaibasa, [Date – inferred from text: Monday if the second day of Chhath is Sunday] – Chaibasa is abuzz with activity as preparations for the Chhath Puja reach their peak. On the second day of the four-day festival, authorities, staff, and laborers worked tirelessly to finalize arrangements at the Roro River Chhath Ghat and other ghats throughout the city.
With the “Kharna” ritual completed on Sunday, devotees are now preparing to offer “arghya” (offerings) to the setting sun this evening. The Nagar Parishad (Municipal Council) has ensured that all essential facilities are in place, including thorough cleaning of ghats.
“We have made comprehensive arrangements to ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience for all devotees and visitors,” said Santosh Kumar Bediya, Nagar Prabandhak (City Manager) of Nagar Parishad, Chaibasa. “This includes leveling the roads leading to the ghats, installing lighting on both sides, painting the steps, setting up decorative gates, providing mobile toilets, water tankers, temporary bridges, around 15 changing rooms, tents, a sound system, a fire engine, a lost and found control room, parking, and traffic management.”
Chaibasa boasts five Chhath Ghats: two at the Karni Mandir, two in Kumhar Toli, and one in Pulahatu, all of which have been thoroughly cleaned. Water levels in the river are currently below knee height, but officials from the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) have indicated that water will be released from the dam to further improve water clarity and accessibility for devotees.
Meanwhile, markets were bustling with activity as devotees flocked to purchase fruits for the Chhath Puja offerings. Despite rising prices, the unwavering faith of the people was evident as fruit shops remained crowded from morning till evening. Most fruit vendors rely on the Jamshedpur fruit market, which sources produce from across the country, including coconuts from Andhra Pradesh, sugarcane from Khunti, apples from Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, custard apples from Serengsia, and oranges from Nagpur.
Kharna Celebrations Marked with Devotion
On Sunday, the “Kharna” or “Lohanda” ritual, marking the second day of Chhath Puja, was observed with great devotion across Chaibasa. Devotees observed a day-long fast, culminating in a special Kharna puja and the consumption of prasad (offerings) made with Arwa rice, milk, jaggery, and wheat roti cooked on a traditional clay stove using mango wood. The prasad was first offered to Chhathi Maiya (the Chhath goddess) and then distributed amongst family, friends, and neighbors. Throughout the night, devotees visited each other’s homes to partake in the Kharna prasad, and married women applied vermillion to each other, offering blessings.
First Piper 