The revered four-day festival dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya commenced on Friday with traditional sanctity and deep spiritual devotion. Devotees inaugurated the rigorous period of penance through the ritual cleansing ceremony known as Nahay Khay. The second day, Saturday, will see observers fast from dawn to dusk before breaking it with the sacred evening prasad during Kharna. On Sunday evening, worshippers will gather in water bodies to offer the first arghya to the setting sun, culminating on Monday morning when the final oblations are presented to the rising sun.
Prime Minister Sends Blessings to Worshippers
Marking the beginning of this spiritual journey, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted citizens across the country. Sharing his thoughts on the social media platform X, he wrote, "Warm wishes to all citizens on the commencement of the four-day sacred ritual of faith and sun worship, Chhath." He bowed in reverence to all devotees undertaking the rigorous fasting rituals and wished for blessings from the deity for everyone's well-being.
Elaborate Administrative Arrangements Across Multiple States
Extensive civic preparations have been rolled out across several northern and western regions of the country. Beyond Bihar, which forms the heartland of the festival, extensive riverbank and pond ghats have been readied in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Municipal teams and local police units have coordinated to secure lighting, barricading, sanitation, and clean water supplies along watercourses. Bustling bazaars are crowded with shoppers purchasing bamboo baskets, seasonal fruits, sugarcane, and clay hearths required for preparing festive offerings.
Political Friction in Maharashtra Over Celebrations
In Maharashtra, preparations are advancing alongside emerging political frictions surrounding the event. Local opposition factions have expressed dissent regarding the broadcast of Bhojpuri devotional songs at Mumbai railway stations as well as congregations on Juhu beach. The Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray alongside the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena registered objections and cautioned against widespread public demonstrations. Meanwhile, state administrative bodies and law enforcement agencies remain stationed on high alert to maintain civic order and communal harmony during the festivities.
Surging Passenger Volumes at Major Transit Hubs
With thousands travelling back to their native places to observe rituals with family, transit hubs across the country are encountering massive passenger rushes. Major terminals in industrial corridors and capital cities are packed with outbound commuters waiting for regional trains. Railway authorities have deployed additional crowd regulation measures, operational desks, and monitoring personnel on platforms to manage the heightened holiday traffic safely.
