THOUSANDS CELEBRATE CHHATH IN CAPITAL
KATHMANDU, Nov 18 : This year, he could not go home and attend the family’s Chhath festival in Birgunj due to the ongoing Madhes movement, said Abhay Yadav, who is a doctor in Kathmandu. So he observed the rituals of offering prayers to Sun God at the Balkhu River on Tuesday evening.
“Although I missed my family to celebrate Chhath festival together in Birgunj, I observed the rituals here in Kathmandu,” said Yadav who was accompanied by his friends.
Like him, hundreds of people from the Tarai residing in the capital for their employment and studies found difficult to get back home for this year’s Chhath festival due to the unrest back home and lack of transportation. Despite being away from their families and home, most of them were not nostalgic about the inability.
Thousands of devotees observed Chhath at various places prepared on the banks of rivers and ponds in Kathmandu. Among these places, Rani Pokhari, which attracts large number of devotees, was decorated with colorful and bright lights and stalls.
Nine years ago, Rani Pokhari was opened for Chhath celebration under the initiation of the then local development minister Rajendra Pandey, according to members of Chhath celebration committee who managed the festival till last year. This year, Kathmandu metropolitan office itself managed the event.
Women devotees take a bath in rivers, ponds or reservoirs on the first day. They observe strict fast on the second day. Today, the third day of the four-day festival, devotees, especially women dressed in colorful sarees, offered argha and prasad to the setting Syb at various rivers and ponds in Kathmandu. On Wednesday they will offer prayers and prasad to the rising sun by standing knee-deep in the water.
Former general secretary for Rani Pokhari Chhath celebration committee Anand Kumar Gupta claimed that number of devotees celebrating Chhath festival in Kathmandu has significantly increased this year.
Although 300 families have registered with Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office for the ghats, or river banks where devotees install their prayer stalls, additional families joined the Chhath observation in Rani Pokhari this year.
Chhath festival is also celebrated by people from Pahadi and Muslim community who have been residing in Tarai region, Santosh Rauniyar, coordinator for Chhath celebration committee at Tankeshwar Mahadev Bhishnumati Ghat said.
“I have seen some families from Pahadi and Muslim community observing the Chhath,” said Rauniyar told Republica.
Meanwhile, President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli offered the prayers to the Sun God at Kamal Pokhari. Likewise, former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai also offered prayers at Rani Pokhari.
“With the Madhesi and Pahadi communities coming together to celebrate the festival, it will help restore social harmony at a time when the society has been polarized due to ongoing protests in the Tarai region and the blockade,” said Nepali Congress lawmaker Gagan Thapa while talking to Republica. “May prayers of Chhath festival help resolve the country’s current crisis including
the Madhesi issues,” he added.
Thousands of devotees observed Chhath at various places prepared on the banks of rivers and ponds in Kathmandu. Among these places, Rani Pokhari, which attracts large number of devotees, was decorated with colorful and bright lights and stalls.
Nine years ago, Rani Pokhari was opened for Chhath celebration under the initiation of the then local development minister Rajendra Pandey, according to members of Chhath celebration committee who managed the festival till last year. This year, Kathmandu metropolitan office itself managed the event.
Women devotees take a bath in rivers, ponds or reservoirs on the first day. They observe strict fast on the second day. Today, the third day of the four-day festival, devotees, especially women dressed in colorful sarees, offered argha and prasad to the setting Syb at various rivers and ponds in Kathmandu. On Wednesday they will offer prayers and prasad to the rising sun by standing knee-deep in the water.
Former general secretary for Rani Pokhari Chhath celebration committee Anand Kumar Gupta claimed that number of devotees celebrating Chhath festival in Kathmandu has significantly increased this year.
Although 300 families have registered with Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office for the ghats, or river banks where devotees install their prayer stalls, additional families joined the Chhath observation in Rani Pokhari this year.
Chhath festival is also celebrated by people from Pahadi and Muslim community who have been residing in Tarai region, Santosh Rauniyar, coordinator for Chhath celebration committee at Tankeshwar Mahadev Bhishnumati Ghat said.
“I have seen some families from Pahadi and Muslim community observing the Chhath,” said Rauniyar told Republica.
Meanwhile, President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli offered the prayers to the Sun God at Kamal Pokhari. Likewise, former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai also offered prayers at Rani Pokhari.
“With the Madhesi and Pahadi communities coming together to celebrate the festival, it will help restore social harmony at a time when the society has been polarized due to ongoing protests in the Tarai region and the blockade,” said Nepali Congress lawmaker Gagan Thapa while talking to Republica. “May prayers of Chhath festival help resolve the country’s current crisis including
the Madhesi issues,” he added.
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