Kathmandu, October 31

All preparations for celebration of Chhath festival in Kathmandu valley are over with the banks of different rivers, mainly the Bagmati, and ponds decked with fancy lights and special platforms made for worshipping.

Chhath, the greatest festival of the Mitihila community, will be celebrated tomorrow by offering prayers to the setting sun and wishing for happiness, well-being, good health and prosperity.

Tens of thousands of Hindu devotees, from the Tarai and hills alike, throng the river banks and ponds to perform Chhath rituals.

Ponds and river banks in Kamalpokhari, Gaurighat, Kalimati, Balkhu, Kupandole, Shankhamul, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur witness huge crowds of devotees.

According to the Chhath Organising Committee, the festival is a four-day celebration. ‘Nahay Khay’, which literally means ‘bathe and eat’, is the first day of the festival. It was celebrated today. On this day, devotees take holy dips in water bodies, eat one meal and clean their houses and surroundings.

Kharna, the second day of the festival, will be observed tomorrow. On this day, women take holy bath, observe a day-long fast and offer puja to the Sun god. Fast-observers don colourful costumes and carry thakuwa (sweet dishes made from wheat and rice flour), bhshuwa, fruits and holy threads, among others, as prasad in a special bamboo basket during Shasthi puja, the third day of Chhath on Saturday, to the river banks and ponds before offering argha to the setting sun. It is the main day of the festival.

The festival will conclude on Sunday after worshipping the rising sun. Special security measures have been put in place in and around the designated festival spots to prevent untoward incidents.

Chhath is dedicated to the sun god and goddess Chhati Maiya.