Preparations for Chhath Puja reach final stage

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Nov. 6: Preparations for Chhath Puja have reached the final stage in Kathmandu. Ponds and rivers in around 12 different locations, including Gaurighat, Kamal Pokhari, Bishnumati and Nakkhu are being decorated for Chhath Puja. 

Raj Kumar Poddar, Secretary of the Gaurighat Chhath Puja Management Committee, said that works like cleaning the banks of the rivers and ponds, removing trash and installing tents, tarpaulin and lights have also reached the final stage.

He further added that the committee would provide free service to the economically poor people who cannot afford to pay Rs. 1,500 charge to observe the festival. 

“The ritual of offering prayers to the setting sun will begin at 3.00 pm on Thursday after the President inaugurates the puja process, and the ritual of greeting the rising sun starts from 5 am on Thursday,” Poddar said.   

The Chhath worshipping area along the Bagmati River has been cleaned while the water flow has been changed, he said.  

Altogether 12 Chhath worshiping points are designated in different places of the Kathmandu Valley including Gaurighat, Kamalpokhari, Bishnumati, Nakhkhu, Kupandol and Balkhu, he informed.   

Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) and Ward No. 8 have committed to provide a certain amount to the committee to manage the Chhathghat, he said.

“Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), Ward No. 1 has taken the responsibility of managing the festival in Kamalpokhari. The ward office has managed tents for the devotees.

 Chhath Puja Society has taken the responsibility of setting light system and other requirements,” said Rajendra Kumar Singh, President of Chhath Puja Society of Kamalpokhari. 

He said, “We have already cleaned the pond for Chhath and the works to set lights system are underway.”

He further said the Ward Office and committee would provide free service to all devotees and it has managed space to accommodate 300 families to observe the festival. 

It would provide 1-meter space for each devotee at the Kamalpokhari Ghat and the team of Pashupati Arati are invited to perform evening Arati on the main day on Thursday evening, he said. 

Singh said, "We have invited the President, Vice-President, Mayor and Deputy-Mayor of KMC, ward chairs of Ward No. 1. People’s representatives too are invited for the Chhath festival." 

Chhath festival is celebrated from Kartik Shukla Chaturthi to Kartik Sukla Saptami by worshipping the setting and the rising sun. Sun is revered as a god and worshipped by making various offerings in Chhath Puja.