The Chhath festival will begin on Saturday with Nahay Khay. The 36-hour Nirjala fast will also begin. Preparations are underway in full swing in Doon. Markets were bustling throughout Friday, with ample purchases of items used for the Chhath fast and puja. Decorations have also begun at the ghats.
Chhath Puja will be held at more than 23 ghats in Doon. Nahay Khay will be celebrated on Saturday, the first day of the Chhath festival. The Nirjala fast will begin immediately afterward. Chhath Puja rituals will be performed for four days. Preparations for Chhath Puja continued throughout the day on Friday at the ghats, and the market was also bustling.
Bamboo baskets, spoons, and other Chhath Puja items were widely purchased in the market. Shopping was also done in several areas, including Jhanda Bazaar, Niranjanpur, and Saharanpur Chowk. Decorations have also begun at the Chhath ghats. Final touches have been put in place at the ghats in Chandrabani, Tapkeshwar, Raipur, Maldevta, Premnagar, and many other places.
The Importance of Nahay Khay
The fast begins with Nahay Khay on the first day. On this day, devotees bathe and consume pure food. Preparations for the Chhath Prasad begin on the day of Nahay Khay. The devotees, along with their family members, prepare the food. Separate stoves and utensils are used for preparing the Chhath Prasad. Furthermore, the devotees and family members are prohibited from eating garlic, onions, and other items. The Nirjala fast also begins with Nahay Khay.
Demand for a two-day holiday from the Chief Minister
The Bihari Mahasabha wrote a letter to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami requesting a two-day public holiday for Chhath Puja. President Lalan Singh and Secretary Chandan Jha stated that Chhath Puja is an important festival. Devotees observe rigorous rituals and fasting. Given the importance of this festival, many states declare a holiday. On similar lines, October 27th and 28th should be declared holidays in Uttarakhand.
Date of Chhath Puja
October 25th – Nahai Khay
October 26th – Kharna
October 27th – Sandhya Arghya
October 28th – Usha Arghya
