छठ पर्वको तयारी
Nawalpur (Nawalparasi), Nov 14 (Kartik 28).
Preparations for the Chhath festival have officially begun on the banks of the Narayani River. With the auspicious four-day festival having commenced on Friday with great devotion and reverence, preparations along the riverside are now in full swing.
According to Narad Prasad Parihast, Vice-Chairman of the Terai Community Service Committee, Chhath is a festival that inspires humanity’s inclination toward truth and non-violence while fostering compassion for all living beings. It begins on Kartik Shukla Chaturthi. The first day of the four-day festival is commonly known as Nahai Khai. On this day, worshippers take ritual baths in rivers, rivulets, ponds, and water bodies, and consume pure vegetarian meals prepared without garlic and onions.
The second day, known as Kharna, falls on Saturday. On this day, devotees begin their strict waterless (nirahar) fasting, Parihast noted, adding that the third day—Sashthi—is considered the main day of the festival. The main evening ritual (Sandhya Ghat) falls on Sunday, during which worshippers will offer prayers and oblations (Arghya) to the setting sun.
On Sashthi, female devotees gather at specially prepared Chhath ghats along rivers and ponds to worship the setting sun in the evening, followed by offering prayers to the rising sun the next morning (Saptami), which formally concludes the festival.
Although the festival officially began on Friday, the main ritual falls on Sunday; therefore, the committee has been actively working to transform the banks of the Narayani River into a well-managed bathing and worship site. Preparations include cleaning the riverbanks and pond surroundings, as well as ensuring a safe and illuminated environment for the devotees.
Jaikishore Pandey, Chairman of the Terai Community Service Committee, stated that the management, cleaning, decoration, and security arrangements—including the setup of tents and pandals—at the Narayani River Chhath ghat are in their final stages. The riverbank is currently being adorned with attractive decorative tents and colorful lights.
Pandey also highlighted that Chhath is no longer confined to the Terai region alone, as people from hilly and other communities have increasingly started celebrating the festival. Funds and voluntary contributions for managing the Chhath ghat have been generously provided by various individuals.
Driven by the festival, markets have witnessed a surge in shoppers since Friday, purchasing essential items for Chhath. These include bamboo items such as nanglo, dalo, and baskets, earthen pots (kalash), oil lamps (diyos), worship materials, as well as sugarcane, fruits, sweets, green vegetables, wheat flour, sugar, oil, and new clothing required for the offerings and celebrations.
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