Four-Day Chhath Festivities Commence with Nahay Khay as PM Modi Extends Greetings Amid Nationwide Preparations The sacred sun worship ritual began on Friday with purification rites, prompting greetings from the prime minister as ghats and stations witness massive footfall. 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. What this means for you The kickoff of the four-day festival directly impacts transport schedules, public mobility, and marketplace operations across several regions. • Across India: Outbound long-distance train networks are handling extreme holiday rushes, creating substantial platform crowding and travel delays. Commuters scheduled to travel on trunk routes should reach stations well ahead of departure times to navigate heavy boarding lines. • In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh: Significant vehicular traffic restrictions and route diversions have been enforced around major riverbanks and water reservoir sites. Residents in riverside localities need to plan local commutes around peak prayer times on Sunday evening and Monday dawn. • In Mumbai: Coastlines including Juhu Beach face heightened police deployment and localized congestion alongside potential political demonstrations. Daily commuters and beach visitors should anticipate traffic slowdowns along western suburban arterial roads over the weekend. • For consumers: High seasonal demand for sugarcane, bamboo wares, and fresh produce is driving elevated retail prices across regional markets. Households participating in the rituals are advised to source perishable items early to avoid localized supply shortages. Why this happened The widespread celebration stems from deeply entrenched agrarian and spiritual traditions honouring nature, solar energy, and civic endurance. • Traditional and cultural rationale: Chhath is dedicated to expressing reverent gratitude toward the sun and natural water sources for sustaining life on Earth. Observers undertake severe fasts without water across four distinct stages to seek health, prosperity, and lineage protection. • Need for extensive administrative oversight: The sheer scale of riverside congregations creates immense safety, logistical, and crowd control demands. Municipalities across northern states construct artificial ponds and reinforced riverbank platforms to prevent water accidents and ensure clean ritual settings. • Roots of political disputes in Mumbai: Objections raised by local regional parties reflect historical identity politics regarding North Indian cultural presence in public urban areas. Factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena oppose station music broadcasts and large beach gatherings to assert local linguistic boundaries. Questions & Answers 1. Which ritual initiates the four-day Chhath festival? The festival begins with Nahay Khay, during which devotees take a purifying bath and partake in a sanctified vegetarian meal. 2. When is the Kharna ritual observed? Kharna takes place on Saturday, where observers maintain a day-long fast before breaking it with prasad in the evening. 3. On which days are the solar offerings made? The first offering to the setting sun is made on Sunday evening, followed by the concluding offering to the rising sun on Monday morning. 4. Which political entities in Mumbai raised objections regarding the celebrations? Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena objected to station song broadcasts and beach festivities. 5. What measures has the railway network implemented for passengers? Railway authorities have enacted structured crowd control protocols and mobilized staff to manage heavy holiday passenger footfall. https://trendkia.com/en/festivals/surya-upasana-ka-chara-divasiya-mahaparva-chhatha-arnbha-narendra-modi-ne-di-badhai-aura-ghaton-para-umari-raunaka-59210 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.