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Chhath Puja has reached its most significant stage, with devotees preparing to offer the first Arghya to the setting Sun on Sunday evening.
The third day of the four-day festival, known as Sandhya Arghya, holds special religious significance as devotees worship Lord Surya and seek blessings for their families.
Devotees across the country are observing the festival with deep faith and devotion. Those undertaking the rituals observe a rigorous 36-hour Nirjala fast, during which they refrain from consuming both food and water.
The celebrations will conclude on Monday morning with Usha Arghya, the offering of prayers to the rising Sun.
On Saturday, devotees performed the Kharna rituals and prepared traditional prasad, including rasiya, kheer and puris. They cooked these offerings on clay stoves using mango wood, following age-old customs associated with the festival.
After observing strict religious discipline and purity throughout the day, devotees consumed the Kharna prasad in the evening. This ritual marked the beginning of their challenging 36-hour waterless fast.
Several households organised special prayers in separate rooms during Kharna, maintaining the traditional practices associated with Chhath Puja.
Devotees who had taken religious vows began fulfilling them through a traditional practice of performing prostrations while travelling from their homes towards the ghats. They undertake this practice as an expression of their devotion to Chhathi Maiya and the Sun God.
According to the scheduled timings, the Sun will set at 04:54 PM on Sunday. Devotees will gather at riverbanks, ponds and other designated water bodies to offer Sandhya Arghya and seek blessings from the setting Sun.
The festival will conclude on Monday morning, when the Sun is expected to rise at 05:59 AM.
Devotees will offer the final Arghya, known as Usha Arghya, marking the completion of the four-day Chhath Puja celebrations.
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