Devotees prepare to mark Chhath festival today

Kathmandu, Oct. 27: Shortly after celebrating Tihar, Nepal's second-largest festival, devotees are now marking Chhath, offering argha to the setting sun on Monday evening and the rising sun the day after.   Preparations for Chhath Puja have reached the final stage on the banks of the Bagmati River at Gaurighat, Thapathali, and Balkhu, as well as at Kamalpokhari in Kathmandu.

People have started observing Chhath from Saturday. Likewise, Kathmandu residents will gather at the Chhath Ghats on Monday evening and Tuesday morning to offer prayers to the rising sun.

According to Raj Kumar Poddar, Vice President of the Chhath Puja Committee of Gaurighat, the site has space to accommodate 615 families for the festival. However, he said more people are expected to visit.

“A total of 60 to 70 devotees were turned back due to lack of space, even though the area has been expanded to accommodate 615 families this year, up from 564 last year,” he said. The Chhath worship area along the Bagmati River has been cleaned, and water flow has been regulated. “We invested around Rs. 1.8 to Rs. 2 million to prepare Chhath ghat for the Chhath festival,” he said.

One positive aspect of Gaurighat is that devotees can perform their puja in continuously flowing water, as the High Powered Committee for Integrated Development of the Bagmati Civilization has ensured additional water supply during the festival.

He further said the committee has arranged tents, lighting to decorate the Chhath Ghat, blankets, and firewood to keep devotees and their relatives warm overnight. The committee charges a nominal fee for using the facilities.

Around Rs. 300,000 to 400,000 has been spent to clean and manage the Bagmati River at Gaurighat. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) police, Pashupati Area Development Trust, and the committee jointly cleaned and managed the river, he added. He further said about Rs. 700,000 is spent on tent management, around Rs. 500,000 on electric lighting, and Rs. 400,000 to 500,000 to distribute prasad, known as Thekuwa, on Tuesday. Security arrangements are provided by three levels of authorities, and 8 to 10 CC cameras have been installed at the site. This year, the KMC Ward No. 1 has taken responsibility for managing the festival at Kamalpokhari.

Rajendra Singh, President of Kamalpokhari Chhath Puja Society, said, “The ward office cleaned the pond and managed the tents and lights for Chhath. The society only supported the management process.”

Space has been arranged to accommodate around 500 families at Kamalpokhari. Since the ward office and other organisations provide necessary facilities, there is no fee to reserve the ghat; it is free for all.

For security reasons, live Bhajan-Kirtan performances have been canceled, and the Aarati of Pashupati will not be held this year. No VIP guests will inaugurate the prayers, unlike previous years. Devotees will perform the prayers to the setting sun independently.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City has made arrangements for the Chhath festival at eight different locations: Kamalpokhari, Gaurighat, Boksidaha, Tinkune Dobhan, Tankeshwor, Balkhu Kumari Club area, Kuleshwar Volleyball Ground, and Ramghat.

Traditionally celebrated in the Tarai region, the Chhath festival is now observed in the hilly and mountainous areas as well. The festival is joyfully celebrated by offering prayers to the setting and rising sun at ghats decorated along rivers, ponds, and lakes, adorned with banana stems and glittering lights.

According to our Damak based correspondent Bishnu Pokharel, in Bhadrapur and Mechinagar of Jhapa, which share a border with India, citizens of both Nepal and India have been celebrating the Chhath festival together for many years. 

As people of the two countries celebrate the Chhath festival exchanging goodwill and fostering brotherhood, the festival holds special significance.