Festive atmosphere of Chhath in the Kathmandu valley

KATHMANDU: The vibrant celebrations of the Chhath festival have begun in the Kathmandu Valley, shortly after the conclusion of Tihar.

Preparations are in full swing at key locations like Gaurighat, Thapathali, and Kamalpokhari, where the construction of tents for the festival is nearing completion.

The riversides of Kathmandu, including popular sites, have been beautifully decorated with lights to mark the occasion.

The area around the Guhyeshwari Temple and the Bagmati River has been specially adorned with a newly constructed Chhath Ghat (ritual site) to accommodate devotees.

From Guhyeshwari to Gaurighat, several ritual sites have been set up with festive decorations to welcome worshippers.

Chandrakant Jha, a member of the Guhyeshwari-Gaurighat Chhath Puja Committee, shared that a total of 567 Chhath Ghats or prayer stalls have been set up in the area.

By 9 AM today, 550 of these stalls had already been booked by devotees eager to participate in the religious rituals. Chhath, a four-day festival, begins with devotees taking a ritual bath and consuming ‘Arba Arbhain’, a traditional meal.

On the second day, devotees prepare ‘Kharna’, a sweet dish made from rice, jaggery, and milk, as an offering.

The third day sees worshippers preparing and offering rituals to the setting sun at the riverbanks. The festival culminates on the fourth day with devotees offering prayers to the rising sun at dawn, marking the completion of the Chhath puja.

As the celebrations unfold, the Kathmandu Valley is immersed in the spirit of devotion and community, with thousands participating in this important cultural and religious event.

The Pashupati Area Development Fund has pledged to donate Rs 3 lakh for the Chhath celebrations at the Guhyeshwari Temple, located on the banks of the Bagmati River.

Dhirendra Kumar Gupta, the Treasurer of the Guhyeshwari Gaurighat Chhath Puja Committee, shared this information, stating that the Fund had assured the donation, which would be provided after the conclusion of the festival.

In addition, preparations are underway at Kamalpokhari for the Chhath celebrations, with the setting up of tents almost complete.

The Chhath Puja Society informed that 260 tents have been installed at the location to accommodate the devotees. Efforts to clean and prepare rivers for Chhath festivities have also been carried out in various locations across the Kathmandu Valley, including Gaurighat, Thapathali, and Kamalpokhari.

Rivers in other districts outside the Kathmandu Valley are also being cleaned and decorated for the event. During the Chhath festival, devotees worship Lord Surya Narayan (the Sun God) in a series of rituals.

The cleaning and beautification of rivers and ponds are part of the preparations to ensure a clean and sacred environment for the rituals.