MAHOTTARI: The ‘Sajhiya Arakh’ ritual of Chhath, the great festival of folk faith, was completed this evening. Across the Mithila region of Madhesh Province, including Mahottari, devotees observing the Chhath fast on the sixth day of the bright fortnight of Kartik offered the first Arghya (ritual offering) to the setting sun.
At scenic ghats (river banks), lakes, ponds and reservoirs, devotees gathered this evening to offer Arghya to the setting sun. The sunset across the Mithila region was at 5:10 pm. The ritual was performed amid the chanting of auspicious devotional songs (Mangal Gaan) glorifying Surya Dev (the Sun God) and Chhathi Devi.
The timing of the Arghya is determined according to the Mithila and Vidyapati Panchangas, which are traditionally used to establish festival dates and ritual timings in the region. This year’s timing for ‘Sajhiya Arakh’ was fixed accordingly, said Pandit Dinesh Kumar Jha, a scholar of Maithil rituals from Bardibas-2.
During Chhath, Surya Dev and Goddess Shashthi are worshipped on the sixth day of Kartik. As part of the tradition, devotees offer the first Arghya to the setting sun. They stand waist-deep in water at ponds and other water bodies, waiting for sunset. Holding coconuts, sacred offerings and other ritual items, including avira and arba rice, they offer prayers while gazing at the sun. They also present traditional Chhath delicacies such as ‘thekuwa’ and ‘bhuswa’, along with bananas, sugarcane and other fruits.
The festival will conclude tomorrow morning, on Saptami Tithi, when devotees offer the second Arghya to the rising sun. According to the Panchang, sunrise in Mithila tomorrow, Monday, is scheduled for 6:26 am. Devotees traditionally enter the water well before sunrise and wait in prayer for the sun to appear. The morning Arghya marks the completion of the Chhath festival.
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