March 23, Janakpurdham – The Chaiti Chhath festival is being celebrated with great enthusiasm today across Janakpurdham and the wider Madhesh region. This evening, devotees will offer arghya (water offerings) to Surya Dev (the Sun God). The festival will officially conclude tomorrow morning after offering arghya to the rising Sun, also known as Dinanath.
Large gatherings of devotees are currently assembling at sacred water bodies such as Gangasagar and Argaja Sagar in Janakpurdham to witness and take part in the Chaiti Chhath rituals.
Following the tradition of Chaiti Chhath is believed to fulfill all wishes and protect devotees from skin diseases and other ailments.
Observed with deep devotion over four days, the festival begins with rituals of cleansing and purification on the first day. The second day involves a day-long fast during which only kheer (rice pudding) sweetened with sugar is consumed at night. On the third day, corresponding to Shashthi tithi (the sixth lunar day), devotees fast without food or water and, at sunset, stand in water bodies to offer arghya to the setting Sun.
Today, devotees enter the water bodies an hour before sunset, focusing their attention toward Kashtimat and begin offering arghya to Dinanath. Offerings include traditional items such as thakuwa (a type of cake), bhuswa (gherkins), radish, sugarcane, bananas, coconuts, and other sacred fruits presented as prasad.
Devotees will observe a night vigil and conclude the festival tomorrow by offering arghya to the rising Sun on Chaitra Shukla Saptami tithi (the seventh lunar day of the bright fortnight).
Photographs: Shailendra Mahto
