Preparations for Chhath begins in Kathmandu [Photos]

KATHMANDU: NOV. 7 – Ghats have been constructed on the banks of rivers, ponds and reservoirs to celebrate the Chhath festival of sun worship. This time, Chhath festival is being celebrated on Nov. 10 and 11.

In Chhath, chanting is done by sitting on the banks of rivers and lakes all night long, paying homage to the setting sun. Once again on the seventh day in the morning, the brat ends when the rising sun is given argha (a special type of offering) again.

Especially in the Terai, this festival is celebrated with special joy in recent years in Kathmandu as well as in the hilly areas. For Chhath Puja, rivers, ponds and other reservoirs are decorated with colors and ghats are built on the banks for Puja.

This time, 650 ghats are being constructed at Gaurighat in Guhyeshwari of Kathmandu for Chhath. According to Anil Singh, a member of the Ghat Chhath Service Committee, a fee of Rs. 1100 each. According to him, 30 ghats will be provided free of cost.

He informed Makalu Khabar that it would cost around Rs 1.6 million to prepare the ghat for Chhath. The Pashupati Area Development Fund has provided Rs. 600,000 for the construction of the ghat.

Singh, a member of the committee, said that the fund was being collected from the devotees as the amount provided by the fund alone was not enough for the joint venture of the fund and the committee.

In Kathmandu Valley, ghats are being constructed along Guhyeshwari, Kamalpokhari, Thapathali and Bagmati Godawari. On the occasion of Chhath, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari also has a tradition of worshiping the sun.

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