Thousands of Chhath devotees offer `arghya’ to Sun God amidst COVID 19 protocols

Four-day Chhath festival to conclude today with `arghya’ to rising Sun

Indore: Amidst corona scare, thousands of people of the Poorvottar Samaj comprising people from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jhakhand here on Wednesday, offered arghya’ to the setting Sun God by standing in natural and artificial water bodies, ponds with complete religious sanctity. Apart from this a large number of devotees also offeredarghya’ to the setting Sun at the rooftops of their homes as well as on their residential premises and buildings. The BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvergiya also offered `arghya’ to the Sund God at Chhath ghat located in Scheme No. 54, Vijay Nagar and prayed for the good health and well being of the people of Indore, state and the country.

Chatth Puja Aayojan Samitis and Poorvottar Sanskritik Sansthan, the apex social organization of the people of Poorvottar Samaj in the city, especially those hailing from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, as a precautionary measure against Covid pandemic, pandemic had appealed the community people and devotees to offer arghya and visit Chath ghats by following Covid safety protocols.

At many ghats, precautionary measures like arrangements of sanitizers, masks had been taken by the Chhath Puja Organizing Committees and many devotees made use of these masks and sanitizers before and after the prayers..

At many ghats, the traditional Chatth songs were blaring, thereby creating an aura of religious fervour. The devotees attired in traditional ethnic dresses were seen coming to ghats with traditional home cooked prasad like thekua’, seasonal fruits, sweets, sugar canes in bamboo made containers. As the Sun God started setting in the west, both male and female fasting devotees offeredarghya’ to the setting Sun God.

Prominent areas in the city where Chatth puja was organized included Banganga, Scheme No. 54, Tirupati Palace Nipania, Scheme No. 78, Sukhliya, Tulsi Nagar, Shyam Nagar, Triveni Nagar, Vijay Nagar, Pipliyahana pond, Silicon City, Phoenix Township, Aerodrom road, Rau and Pithampur respectively.

The four-day Chhath festival will come to an end on Thursday with the offering of `arghya’ to the rising Sun God.