Go to :  Index File

Devotees in Varanasi pay obeisance to Sun God in Chhaath

     Varanasi: People in Varanasi, the holy city situated on the banks of river Ganges, on Sunday began celebrations for the two-day annual Hindu festival of Chhaath, which involves worship of the Sun god, symbolising life force and prosperity. The festival, which began on Sunday, is also celebrated in Bihar. Traditionally Chhaath is celebrated on the sixth and seventh day after Diwali During the festival, women offer special prayers for the welfare and prosperity of their families. As part of the ritual women stand waist-deep in water for at least two hours and offer fruits and flowers to Surya, the Sun God. On the first day, devotees eat kheer (condensed milk) and roti (handmade bread) and keep fast for a day and half. "We eat "kheer" (condensed milk) and handmade bread today and then keep fast for the entire day and night. Then we offer prayers to the setting as well as the rising sun and only after then we break our fast," said Basanti Singh, a devotee. On Chhaath, people go to bathing ghats on riverbanks to pay obeisance to both the rising and the setting sun. This time, however, most of the devotees are, worried that the ghats are filthy. Authorities are nevertheless setting aside such fears and have said that the banks have been cleaned before the festival. "We have requested the city administration and other employees to clean up the ghats as soon as possible. But due to Diwali and Eid falling at the same time, many staff are on leave. But still we hope to clean up the place by tomorrow," said RP Singh, a district official. A heavy rush of devotees is expected on the festival day and authorities usually ban private-run boats from ferrying people. Last year, five people were killed and several others injured in New Delhi when hundreds rushed down the stairs from an over bridge while trying to board a train to Patna ahead of the festival. This year Railways have made elaborate arrangements to prevent any such mishap. Special patrols have been set up at the main railway station to restrict any mishap. Two companies of Railway Protection Force (RPF) have also been deployed. Ropes are being used to divide passenger walkways between platforms into lanes. "We have installed Close Circuit Cameras to monitor the entire railway station round the clock where there is rush. We have opened 50 ticket counters. As for security we have 550 RPF, Delhi police and other officials at the station," said Pradeep Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager. Railway officials have said that they estimate a rush of 4,20,000 passengers a day in the festive season.
-Nov 6, 2005