Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended greetings for Chhath Puja, calling it a shining example of India’s social unity, where people from all walks of life pray together.
The four-day festival, dedicated to the Sun God, began Saturday with the sacred ‘Nahay-Khaay’ ritual.
Celebrated mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal, Chhath Puja highlights the harmony between nature and humans while promoting purity, discipline, and gratitude.
Sunday marks the second day, ‘Kharna’. Devotees fast from sunrise to sunset, avoiding food and water until they pray to the Sun God. Then, they break the fast with satvik prasad, including jaggery-based dishes, symbolizing spiritual purification.
In the 127th episode of his radio programme Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi described the festive atmosphere across India.
He said, “Markets buzz, homes prepare ‘Thekua’, and ghats shine with decorations. Devotion, warmth, and tradition fill every corner.”
He praised women observing the Chhath fast, calling their dedication ‘truly inspiring’.
Moreover, the Prime Minister emphasised the festival’s social significance. He stated, “Chhath reflects deep unity among culture, nature, and society. At the ghats, people from all backgrounds stand together. This shows India’s social harmony at its best.”
PM Modi encouraged people, in India and abroad, to experience Chhath Puja.
“I bow to Chhathi Maiya and wish all countrymen, especially in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Purvanchal, well,” he added.
Thousands of devotees gather at ghats to perform rituals with unwavering faith. Rooted in the Satyuga and Dwapara Yuga, Chhath Puja is one of the oldest forms of Sun worship. Devotees fast rigorously to seek health, prosperity, and happiness.
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