KATHMANDU: The Chhath festival, a celebration of purity, gratitude, and faith, is being observed across the country today with great enthusiasm and reverence.
The main ritual of the four-day festival begins this evening with devotees offering prayers and Argha (holy offerings) to the setting sun. On this day, worshippers stand in rivers, ponds, and lakes to honor the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya, the goddess believed to grant health, prosperity, and longevity.
While Chhath has traditionally been celebrated in the Terai region, it has now gained wide popularity in the hilly and mountainous areas, including the Kathmandu Valley, where thousands of devotees have gathered at rivers and ponds to perform the rituals.
In Janakpurdham, the spiritual center of the Madhes Province, major ponds such as Ganga Sagar, Dhanus Sagar, Ram Sagar, Ratna Sagar, Bihar Kunda, Argaja, Maharaj Sagar, and Agni Kunda have been beautifully decorated with lights, banana trees, bamboo arches, and colorful pandals.
The local administration and volunteers have ensured safety, cleanliness, and smooth management for devotees performing the rituals.
According to tradition, devotees observe a strict fast—without food or even water—for two days, symbolizing discipline and devotion. The festival concludes with offerings to the rising sun, marking the end of the worship and the renewal of hope, purity, and harmony.
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