Chhath devotees throng riverbanks

Bhubaneswar: Hundreds of devotees thronged riverbanks and waterbodies and paid obeisance to the Sun God on Sunday on the occasion of Chhath puja.
Members of Odia community also took part in the celebrations as the festivities resumed after a gap of two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Greeting people on Chhath puja, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said, “May the Sun God bless everyone with good health, happiness, prosperity and success in life.”
Various waterbodies, river ghats and also temporary water tanks on rooftops and backyards came alive where women decked up with vermillion and henna stood in waist-deep water and paid arghya to the setting sun.
They carried a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and special delicacies to the riverbanks and performed special rituals there.
“The festival is observed for four days, during which we try to remain pure. All of us follow a strict regime and self-discipline starting from fasting to preparing prasad for the Sun God to offering fruits and vegetables. The concept is to thank the Sun for giving us life, light and energy to survive and celebrating the special bond with nature,” said Deepsikha Gunjan, a homemaker.
Women prepare special delicacies like lauki bhat, chana dal, kheer-puri and thekua — a special sweet dish and distribute among friends and neighbours.
“We have been invited by our Bihari friends to go to river banks with them. We take part in the festivities and pray to the Sun with them. It is a beautiful festival and I love all the rituals starting from fasting to wearing henna and vermillion, new clothes and eating together,” said Sanjukta Sahu, an Odia woman who went to Kuakhai river with her neighbours.
Another unique thing of the festival was strangers distribute prasad after offering puja on the riverbanks.