Patna: Lakhs of devotees on Sunday offered
prayers after taking holy dip in various rivers across Bihar
with the four-day Chhath festival beginning from today with
"Nahai Khai" (ritualistic bath and traditional food).
Chhath, celebrated five days after Diwali, is dedicated
to the Sun God and is one of the most popular festivals of
Bihar.
In the state capital, lakh of devotees, mainly married
couple, thronged the bank of river Ganga early this morning
for the ritualistic bath and offering prayers.
"We took a bath to purify ourselves before preparing
food, known as 'Nahai-Khai' that marks the beginning of
Chhath," a woman devotee said.
Nahai Khai would be followed by Kharna which would
distribution of Kheer Prasad tomorrow and distributed among
neighbours, friends and relatives.
Tight security arrangements were made on the banks of
rivers and ponds across the state for the Nahai Khai, official
sources said.
Colourful idols of the Sun God riding his chariot with
seven horses, a new attraction this year, were sold on the
river banks.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has directed all the
District Magistrates to accord top priority to the safety of
devotees on the Chhath on November 1 and November 2, sources
said.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, October 30, 2011, 16:28