Lucknow, Nov 15 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday extended warm greetings to the countrymen on the auspicious occasion of Chhath Puja and prayed for peace and prosperity in society.
Devotees are immersed in religious fervour and devotion as the grand festival of folk faith, Chhath Puja, reaches its most significant stage, as they prepare to offer the first arghya to the setting Sun, known as Sandhya Arghya, on Sunday evening.
Taking to X, CM Yogi said, “Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all devotees and residents of the state on Chhath Puja, the grand festival of worshipping Lord Sun, popular faith, and Chhathi Maiyya.”
“May Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiyya bring happiness, peace, prosperity, and good health into the lives of all devotees,” he added.
The four-day festival will conclude on Monday morning with the offering of arghya to the rising Sun.
Earlier, CM Yogi directed officials to ensure foolproof arrangements for the safety, convenience and cleanliness for devotees during Chhath Mahaparva, stressing that there should be no compromise on public safety and essential facilities at ghats across the state.
Chairing a high-level review meeting through video conferencing, the Chief Minister instructed district administrations to complete all preparations well in advance, particularly in districts witnessing large gatherings of devotees, including Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Ballia, Azamgarh, Ghazipur, Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Basti and Kanpur Nagar.
Describing Chhath as a festival rooted in faith, discipline, purity and gratitude towards nature, Chief Minister Yogi said, “Lakhs of devotees will participate in the festival with immense devotion and enthusiasm across various districts of the state.”
Directing officials to inspect all major ghats, rivers, ponds and other water bodies, the Chief Minister emphasised proper cleaning, adequate lighting, accessible approach roads, clean drinking water, toilets and changing rooms for women.
Devotees observing the festival are undertaking a rigorous 36-hour Nirjala fast without consuming even water and are immersed in the worship of Lord Surya.
On Saturday, Chhath devotees performed the Kharna rituals and prepared prasad, including rasiya, kheer and puris, using traditional methods. The offerings were cooked on clay stoves fuelled by mango wood, maintaining the age-old customs associated with the festival.
After observing a day of strict purity, devotion and religious discipline, the fasting devotees consumed the Kharna prasad in the evening in accordance with the prescribed rituals. This marked the beginning of the challenging 36-hour waterless fast.
In several households, special prayers were organised during the Kharna ritual in separate and secluded rooms, in keeping with the religious traditions associated with Chhath.
According to the scheduled timings, the Sun will set at 4:54 p.m. on Sunday, when devotees will offer the first arghya at the riverbanks and other designated water bodies.
The following morning, the sunrise is expected at 5:59 a.m., when the devotees will offer the final arghya to the rising Sun, bringing the four-day Chhath celebrations to a close.
–IANS
sd/