Chhath devotees offer 'arghya' to rising Sun on last day of the holy festival

Thousands of devotees across Odisha completed the rituals of Chhath Puja by offering ‘arghya’ to the rising sun and breaking the fast. The festival will end on Friday morning, with devotees worshiping the rising sun.

Devotees worship the setting sun the evening prior before taking an early morning dip and offering prayers to the rising sun. The festival is held every year six days after Diwali between the months of October and November to honour the Sun God (Surya).

The ancient Hindu Vedic festival is dedicated to the sun for bestowing the bounties of life on Earth and to seek the granting of certain wishes. The festival sees rigorous fasting undertaken by both men and women over a period of four days before fasting is broken after prayers on completion of prayers to the rising sun.

The rituals include bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water (Vratta), standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prasad (prayer offerings) and ‘arghya’ to the setting and rising sun. A large number of women thronged river ghat at Sector 16 in Rourkela to worship the Sun God and perform the rituals in the morning hour. They offered fruits as Prasad to Lord Surya.

“I have been observing the festival for the last 30 years with full dedication and determination,” said a devotee.

“It’s a very holy festival. If we observe the festival with full dedication then God will fulfills all our desires,” said another devotee.

Chhath Puja is a major Hindu festival mainly observed in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. The festival is also observed in other states of India, parts of Nepal and among Indian communities abroad. This four-day festival is dedicated to the worship of Lord Surya, the Sun God, and his sister Chhathi Maiya. It emphasizes themes of nature, gratitude, and familial well-being.