Chhath Puja concludes with ‘arghya’ to rising sun

Lakhs of devotees worshipped the rising sun on the banks of the Sutlej and other water bodies in Phagwara, Goraya, Phillaur, Bilga, Nurmahal and Nakodar areas today in the morning. The puja concluded after offering ‘arghya’, ending the four-day long Chhath festival.

People started rushing to nearby water bodies from early in the morning. Devotees observed fast and prepared traditional puja offerings like kua, coconut, banana and seasonal fruits in Soop (bamboo trays).

Former Union Minister of State Vijay Sampla, Som Parkash, former minister Joginder Singh Maan, MLAs Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary, Jarnail Nangal, Gurpartap Singh Wadala and Amarjit Singh Samra greeted people.

They described the ‘Chhath Puja’ as a festival of prosperity and joy.

Tradition has it that an ancient king got cured of leprosy after he adhered to the advice of doctors to observe fast and offer ‘arghya’ to the setting and rising sun standing in knee-deep water to mark the festival.

“As per the tradition, the Chhath Puja is performed to thank the Sun. All rituals and songs sung by devotees during the festival centre around veneration of the Sun with the belief that it helps in promoting health and prosperity,” said a devotee.

Earlier, nearly 45,000 people hailing from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, performed the ‘Chhath Puja’ on Sunday evening along the Chachoki distributary in Phagwara, while over one lakh devotees performed the ‘Puja’ near the Sutlej at Phillaur.

A carnival-like atmosphere prevailed at the site near Chachoki canal on the periphery of Phagwara and on the banks of Sutlej near Phillaur.