Crowds in Birgunj for Chhath Festival

Following the Tihar festival, the Chhath festival is now being celebrated with great joy in the Terai region. In preparation for this, a large crowd of people has gathered at the clock tower market in Birgunj, Nepal. This rush is for buying the necessary materials required to perform the rituals correctly before performing the Kharna, which is observed on the second day of the Chhath festival.

The Rituals of Chhath

The Chhath festival begins on the first day with 'Nahaye Khaye'. On the second day, which is after Kharna, the people observing the fast, known as Vratis, begin a strict fast without food or water. This fast is then broken only on the following morning after offering prayers to the rising sun. The festival officially starts on the fourth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Kartik.

Essential Items for the Festival

The items needed for the Chhath puja include fresh green vegetables and fruits like apples, bananas, and oranges. Other necessary items are a coconut with water, a type of ginger, sugarcane, green beans, radish, and the whole plant of ginger. For the rituals, devotees also buy traditional bamboo items like a small basket, a lid, and a winnowing fan. Special foods enjoyed during this festival include Thekuwa, a deep-fried cookie, and other sweets prepared with pure ghee.