PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Elaborate arrangements have been made by various bodies and some public representatives for celebrating Chhath Puja in Dehradun. Local residents hailing from Bihar and easter Uttar Pradesh enthusiastically began the Chhath Puja rituals on Saturday. The Bihari Mahasabha office bearers claimed that their members have ensured necessary arrangements for this festival. Workers cleaned and decorated sites near water bodies and also put up illuminations at the Ghats for the celebration.
The festivities kicked off on Saturday with a ritual called Nahai Khay, where food is consumed only after bathing. The fasting begins on the first day with Nahai Khay, followed by Kharna Mahaprasad. It is said that devotees observe Kharna to pray for a son and accept Prasad with great faith. On this day, pumpkin rice was prepared and distributed as Prasad. This Prasad is offered to Chhathi Maiya and then distributed among devotees. Pumpkin rice is made from pumpkin, rice, mustard oil, fenugreek seeds, green chilies, turmeric powder, red chili powder, salt and jaggery.
Mahasabha officials further informed that Sunday marks the second day of the Chhath festival, known as Kharna or Lohanda. On the fifth day of the month of Kartik, devotees observe a full-day fast and refrain from drinking even a drop of water until sunset. The Kharna Prasad will include jaggery pudding and roti, cooked on a new earthen stove using mango wood. This Prasad will be offered to Chhathi Maiya and Surya Devta and then distributed among the devotees, they added.
Many individuals have also been spotted in the major markets of Dehradun shopping for Chhath Puja preparations.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Bihari Mahasabha had recently written to the chief minister, requesting a two-day public holiday for October 27 and 28 for the celebration of the said festival.
