KATHMANDU, Oct 24: Devotees across the country observed Chhath festival on Saturday. Major water bodies in the Valley were also decorated and people, especially of Tarai origin, worshipped the setting sun.
Devotees offer banana, sugarcane, papaya, sweets, beans and other edibles to the setting sun from the bank of ponds and rivers on the sixth day after Deepawali and conclude the four-day festival by worshipping the rising sun the following morning.
According to our Itahari correspondent Amar Khadka, people of hilly origin and Muslim community in the area also celebrated the festival with much fanfare. People of hilly origin and Muslims gathered around Budi river, Sunsari river, Koshi Barrage, and Khanar canal along with their Madhesi brethren to worship the sun.
“This has sent across the message of communal harmony that was strained following the Tarai movement,” said Gulabi Miya, a Muslim from Duhabi.
In Janakpur, devotees worshipped the sun from famous water bodies like Gangasagar, Dhanushsagar, Ratansagar, Agnikunda, Arajsagar and Maharajsagar.
Our Biratnagar correspondent Ajit Tiwari informed that devotees thronged rivers, ponds and canals to worship the sun. Banks of Singhiya river, Koshi canal and other ponds were decorated for the festival. While devotees stood in water to worship, others joined in the celebration by lighting firecrackers.
Similarly, people of Tarai origin celebrated Chhath in Ilam, according to our correspondent Khilanath Dhakal. People worshipped the sun god from local temples in absence of water bodies in Illam Bazar.
It is believed that Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas, had worshipped the sun and fasted on the sixth day of lunar calendar for the success of their one-year disguise. People believe that worshipping the sun God helps cure diseases like leprosy and bring prosperity, and longevity of family members.
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