Friday, 17 November 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
In latest news from Dehradun, the four-day Chhath Puja commenced with religious fervor and devotion. The ritual of the first day of this puja is known as Nahay Khay to be followed by a 36-hour fasting period. Rooted in mythology and dating back to antiquity, this festival is dedicated to the Lord Srya (Sun) and His sister. The rituals of this puja are considered to be the toughest as these involve a full-day fast without water, observed on the third day. The main ritual of the third day involves offering Arghya to the Lord Surya when He is setting for the day. The fourth day- which is the final day of the Chhath Puja- the devotees offer Dusri to the Lord Surya when He is rising , known as Usha Arghya. Celebrated by people of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Nepal, the devotees say that this is perhaps the only puja in Hinduism which involves neither mantra chanting nor participation of pandits to conduct it.
