Elaborate arrangements made for Chhath Puja festivities in Bihar

Patna: Elaborate arrangements have been made by the Bihar government across the state for the third day of the Chhath Puja festivities on Thursday.

Devotees will worship Goddess 'Chhathi Maiya' by offering prayers or 'arghya' to the setting sun on Thursday.

Millions of devotees are expected to offer prayers at various ghats of the holy river Ganga and other water bodies in Patna and other parts of the state in the evening.

The second 'arghya' will be offered to the rising sun on Friday morning, marking the culmination of the four-day festival.

The Patna district administration has made elaborate security arrangements at more than 100 ghats along the Ganga here to avert any untoward incident during Chhath, Bihar's biggest festival, officials said on Thursday.

Besides, several medical camps have been set up at different ghats in Patna, they said.

According to the district administration, arrangements have been made at various ponds such as Kachhi Talab, Gardanibagh Pond, Manikchand Pond, Anisabad and Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park Lake.

Besides, major parks such as Eco Park, Energy Park, Veer Kunwar Singh Park, Shivaji Park, Hardinge Park, Hanuman Nagar Park and S K Puri Park have also been prepared for the festivities.

Speaking to PTI on Thursday, Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh said, "All ghats are ready for Chhath Puja festival. Arrangements have been made at all ghats, including Banshi Ghat, Krishna Ghat, Kali Ghat, Kadam Ghat and Patna College Ghat."

"We have issued advisories for the Chhath Puja, which visitors and devotees must follow. Officials have also been directed to ensure devotees face no inconvenience," he added.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, along with senior officials, has already conducted an extensive inspection of the ghats along Ganga River in Patna to ensure smooth arrangements for the Chhath festival.

"A large number of additional security forces have been deployed in the state capital to manage crowds and avoid any untoward incidents. Besides, personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and NDRF have also been deployed at various ghats in the city," another senior official of the Patna district administration said.

The four-day festivities began on November 5 with the 'Nahai Khai' ritual, during which devotees take a holy dip in the Ganga and other rivers and ponds.

The festival begins on the sixth day of Kartik Shukla and six days after Diwali.

On the first day, worshippers honour 'Chhathi Maiya' and the sun god, and seek their blessings for the prosperity of their families and children.

On the next day, devotees observe day-long fasting, which ends in the evening after praying to the sun and the moon.

The third day is called 'Pehla Arghya' or 'Sandhya Arghya'. Devotees go to the river bank and offer 'prasad' and 'arghya' to the sun god. The festivities will conclude on November 8.