Bareilly, Read. On Sunday, the third day of the great festival of folk faith, Chhath, a unique confluence of faith and devotion will be seen in every city. The fasting women, who are doing the rigorous practice of 36 hours of waterless fast, will offer Arghya to the setting Sun God in the evening. In this sequence, devotees will gather at various places including Railway Colony of Bareilly, Rohilkhand University. Fasting women along with family members will reach the ghats with puja soup and prasad and will offer water and milk to the setting sun and wish for the longevity of their children and happiness and prosperity of the family.
Songs of Chhathi Maiya will echo on the ghats and the atmosphere will be devotional with the lighting of lamps. Chhath Puja is a major folk festival lasting four days. It starts with Nahay-Khay. On the second day after Kharna, 36 hours of Nirjala fast starts. Evening Arghya is offered on the third day and the great festival ends with offering Arghya to the rising sun on the fourth day. For the evening Arghya, the devotees will be busy preparing for the puja throughout the day.
This is how evening prayer is offered to the setting sun.
The tradition of offering evening Arghya during Chhath Puja is very special. The fasting women reach the ghat after decorating the bamboo soup with thekua, fruits, coconut, sugarcane and other worship materials. At sunset, the devotee stands in the water and picks up the soup in her hands. Family members also stay together in the puja. After this, water is slowly offered from a pot or pot while facing the Sun God. Milk is also offered in many traditions. During this time, songs of Chhathi Maiya and Surya Dev are sung and wishes are made for the happiness, prosperity of the family and well-being of the children. After Arghya, Chhathi Maiya is worshiped with soup and prasad.
Auspicious time for evening prayer
This year, the evening Arghya of Chhath Puja will be offered on 15th November, Sunday i.e. today. The fasting person will offer Arghya to the setting sun at the time of sunset. Sunset time may be different in different cities. Sunset will happen around 5:28 pm in Delhi and 5:01 pm in Patna. In Bareilly also, Arghya will be offered as per the local sunset time. In other cities, sunset is expected between 5 and 5:30 pm.
Religious significance of Sandhya Arghya
Evening Arghya is considered to have special significance in the festival of Chhath. On this day, devotees express their gratitude to the setting sun by offering prayers to him. According to religious belief, Sun is considered the basis of life, energy and health. The fasting person prays to Chhathi Maiya and Surya Dev for the long life of the children, good health and happiness of the family. During this time, a large number of devotees gather at the ghats. The whole atmosphere becomes devotional with the traditional songs of Chhathi Maiya.
If the weather deteriorates, the problems of the devotees may increase.
Amidst the possibility of changing weather patterns in Bareilly, women fasting on Chhath festival will also keep an eye on the weather. There may be problems due to change in weather while offering evening Arghya in open places and on the banks of water bodies. In such a situation, the devotees will need to check the weather before reaching the ghat and take care of the safety of the elderly and children during the puja.