Patna, 28 October (H.S.): Lakhs of devotees across Bihar offered prayers to the rising sun on Tuesday morning, marking the conclusion of the four-day Chhath Puja festival. The sacred ritual, known as ‘Usha Arghya’, symbolizes gratitude to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya for sustaining life on earth and fulfilling wishes for prosperity and well-being.

From the early hours, devotees thronged the banks of the Ganga and other water bodies across the state, including popular ghats in Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, and Aurangabad. Families stood waist-deep in water, singing devotional songs and offering fruits, sugarcane, and the traditional thekua as part of the sunrise prayers.

The Patna district administration made elaborate arrangements at over 100 ghats, deploying disaster response teams, divers, and medical units to ensure safety. Barricades, lighting systems, and temporary changing facilities were also set up to manage the massive turnout of devotees. Officials said continuous monitoring was carried out through control rooms and CCTV surveillance.

Chhath Puja, regarded as Bihar’s biggest festival, is celebrated with immense devotion and discipline. The four-day festival, which began with Nahay-Khay, followed by Kharna and Sandhya Arghya, culminates with the morning offering to the rising sun — symbolizing purity, gratitude, and hope for a prosperous life.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar