Ghats in Patna come alive as devotees cook 'kharna prasad'

PATNA: A unique liveliness was witnessed in the city as the Ganga ghats reverberated with devotional songs like 'Kelva ke paat par', 'Kaanch hi baans ke bahangiya' and 'Uthau suraj bhaile bihaan', while devotees offered prayers to the sun god and prepared "prasad" on the second day of Chhath festival, which is known as 'kharna', on Saturday.
All the arterial roads from Patna City, Ashok Rajpath to Digha and Danapur were neat and clean and decked up with colorful lights, flowers and "shamiyanas". Flaunting in yellow and red saris, coral red bangles, yellow vermilion and "alta" on their feet, women were seen heading towards Chhath ghats.
Many Chhath vratis walked miles barefoot to reach the ghats by carrying the puja materials and brass pots to fetch the Ganga water. Several people were seen washing the feet of Chhath vratis and seeking blessing after paying their obeisance to the sun god. Shanti Praasd (59), a devotee offering prayer at Rani Ghat, said, "Washing feet of vratis and taking their blessing is an old ritual associated with Chhath."
"On kharna, we cooked kheer and roti or puri as prasad. This special food is cooked in brass utensils on earthen stove. I made kheer with rice and wheat, which we had washed on nahay-khay. After eating this prasad, we observe 36-hour fast that will end on Monday morning," Shanti said.
Deepali Shrivastava (32), a resident of Nala Road, said she is emotionally attached to this festival as she grew up seeing her grandmother and mother observing the fast. "I don't observe the Chhath fast as it is very difficult, but help my mother-in-law in performing the rituals. It is the only festival in which all family members get involved and offer prayers to the sun god," she said.
The approach road leading to the ghats remained crowded on Saturday with women devotees queuing up to paint their feet with "alta" (red liner). Many makeshift stalls of alta designers and sellers of flowers and puja items have come up near the ghats.
Akshrita Anmol (39), who is observing Chhath fast for last four years, said initially, she found the rituals very difficult and challenging but with time, she got accustomed to it. "The 36-hour-long fast is most difficult and it needs immense willpower to observe it. I feel closer to the nature when I observe the fast and keep myself busy in performing the rituals," she said, while taking dip in the Ganga at Baharwa Ghat.
Standing in knee-deep water, Namita and her husband Shashikant prayed to the sun god to bestow them with health, prosperity and progress.
"Chhati Maiya fulfils devotees' wishes if they perform all the rituals by maintaining the sanctity of the festival. I and my husband have been observing the fast for the well-being of our family members," Namita said.
The festive fervour was visible at the ghats till evening on Saturday. People also visited the places of their friends and relatives to eat "kharna" prasad.