RAIPUR,CG,BHARAT: The four-day Chhath festival commenced on Tuesday with all festivity and rituals with the observance of Nahay Khay. According to Rajesh Kumar Singh, Chairman of the Chhath Mahaparva Organizing Committee in Mahadevghat, Raipur, the festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm across Chhattisgarh in cities such as Raipur, Bilaspur, Bhilai-Durg, Korba, and Bastar.

Over 50 locations in Raipur, including Mahadev Ghat on the Kharun River and Vyas Talab, will host Chhath Puja celebrations.

This year, the Chhath festival runs from November 5 to 8, celebrated with devotion across India and worldwide. On November 7, a special cultural program will take place at Mahadev Ghat, featuring performances by renowned artists such as international folk singers Kalpana Patwari from Mumbai, Gayatri Yadav from Lucknow, Parineeta Rao Patnaik, Chhattisgarhi folk singer Dukalu Yadav, and other local artists. A grand Maha Aarti will also be held at Mahadev Ghat that evening. Additionally, a Chhath Puja event will be conducted at Jhanj Pond in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar.

The festival emphasizes cleanliness, aligning with the government’s ongoing cleanliness initiative. Traditionally, groups clean roads and ghats, reflecting the deep-rooted value of cleanliness in Chhath celebrations. Chhathi Maiya, venerated during the festival, is seen as a symbol of purity and cleanliness.

The festival’s main rituals will unfold as follows: Lohanda and Kharna on November 6, Sandhya Arghya (evening offering) on November 7, and Usha Arghya (morning offering) on November 8. Chhath Puja uniquely honors both the setting and rising sun, and is also known as Shashthi Puja or Surya Shashthi Vrat. Celebrated mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Nepal, the festival is dedicated to the Sun God, Surya, and his sister, Chhathi Maiya.

Festival-goers engage in rigorous practices such as fasting, abstaining from water, standing in water for extended periods, and offering prasad and arghya to Surya. The Chhath Mahaparva is also celebrated by the Indian diaspora in Nepal, Fiji, Mauritius, Suriname, and Guyana, where they have preserved this cultural tradition.

In preparation for the festival, committee members and Raipur Municipal Corporation workers were at Mahadev Ghat today, cleaning and decorating the site for the grand celebrations ahead.

Officials from the Chhath Mahaparva Organizing Committee, led by Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh, visited Governor Ramen Deka at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday. During the courtesy meeting, they extended a formal invitation for the Governor to participate in the Chhath Mahaparva celebrations.

Joining Chairman Singh in the delegation were Patron Board advisor Ramkumar Singh Rajawat, Deputy organizing head Kanhaiya Singh, Secretary of Publicity for Mahadev Ghat Brijesh Kumar Singh, and other committee members.