Chhath festival concludes with offerings to the rising Sun

Kathmandu, Oct 28: This year’s Chhath festival concluded this Tuesday morning with devotees offering Argha (holy offerings) to the rising Sun, marking the end of the four-day celebration that began last Saturday.

The main Pooja was performed last evening, followed by early morning rituals today, as devotees thronged rivers, ponds, and lakes across the country — including in the Kathmandu Valley — to make offerings to the Sun God.

The festival was observed with grandeur in the Tarai districts of Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha, and Saptari, particularly across the Mithila region, where devotees carried out rituals on the banks of ponds, lakes, and rivulets.

Chhath, one of the most significant Hindu festivals dedicated to the Sun God (Surya), symbolizes purity, faith, and harmony. It encourages devotion to truth and non-violence, while fostering compassion towards all living beings.

Throughout the festival, devotees observe fasting and offer prayers to both the setting and rising suns, expressing gratitude for life, health, and prosperity. On the main day — Kartik Shukla Sasthi — devotees observe a rigorous fast, abstaining even from water, and offer Argha to the setting sun in the evening.

On the following morning, the festival concludes with offerings to the rising sun, believed to bring happiness, well-being, and longevity to family members.

Devotees also perform rituals for their ancestral deities and consume fruits only once during the second day of the festival. A common belief holds that those who offer Argha with devotion are protected from skin diseases and blessed with good health.

The festival, celebrated with immense enthusiasm, is a reflection of goodwill, faith, and social harmony — as people from all walks of life gather together in reverence to the Sun God. #nepal #chhath