Mon Oct 27 01:00:00 UTC 2025: News Article: Devotees Prepare for Arghya as Chhath Puja Festivities Continue
Lakhisarai, India – The third day of the Chhath Puja festival sees devotees preparing to offer the first Arghya (ritual offering) to the setting sun, Lord Bhaskar, today. This follows Sunday’s ‘Kharna’, where devotees broke their fast with special prasad (sacred food), marking the start of a rigorous 36-hour fast without food or water. The festival culminates tomorrow with offerings to the rising sun.
Preparations for Kharna began Sunday morning as devotees gathered water from wells and the Ganges River to prepare prasad consisting of kheer (rice pudding), roti (flatbread), and other traditional dishes for Lord Surya (Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya (Chhath Goddess).
Following Kharna, devotees have been busy preparing for Arghya, grinding wheat for ‘thekua’ (a type of cookie) and other offerings. Markets are bustling with shoppers buying puja (worship) items, leading to traffic congestion in many areas.
Local authorities and community organizations have been working to ensure the safety and cleanliness of ghats (riverbanks) where devotees will gather. Elaborate decorations, including pandals (temporary structures), lights, and deity idols, have been set up along the Kiul River and other water bodies. Security measures, including police presence and designated changing rooms for women, are also in place.
Chhath Puja is considered a festival deeply connected to nature, promoting cleanliness, environmental preservation, and social harmony. The festival emphasizes the importance of rivers, ponds, and ponds. The folk songs sung during the festival convey messages of female empowerment, nature conservation and the importance of education.
As the sun sets today, devotees will gather at designated ghats to offer their prayers and the first Arghya, seeking blessings for health, prosperity, and well-being from Chhathi Maiya.
First Piper 