Chhath: Second day ‘Kharna’ being observed today
On this second day, devotees gather at the banks of rivers and ponds to offer prayers to the setting sun.
KATHMANDU: Devotees are observing the second day of the Chhath festival today, marked by fasting from the morning and preparing offerings of fruits, nuts, and sweets throughout the day.
The festival, which began on Tuesday, is widely celebrated in the Terai and Madhesh regions.
On this second day, devotees gather at the banks of rivers and ponds to offer prayers to the setting sun.
They light lamps, sing hymns, and make offerings to the waning sun in a spiritual atmosphere that is evident in several locations, including Ranipokhari, Gaurighat, and Kupondole in the Kathmandu Valley.
Chhath is a festival dedicated to the Sun God, with worshippers offering their devotion to both the rising and setting sun.
It spans four days, from Kartik Shukla Chaturthi to Kartik Shukla Saptami, according to the lunar calendar, typically falling between October and November in the Gregorian calendar.
The Sun, revered as the deity of energy and life, is honored during Chhath to invoke blessings for health, prosperity, and progress.
Rituals during the festival include taking holy baths, fasting, and engaging in long periods of worship. Offerings such as prasad and argha (curd) are made to both the rising and setting sun.
Chhath is unique for its focus on bathing and prayer, coupled with a strict period of fasting and ritual segregation for the devotees, who remain apart from their households for the four days of observance.
