Bihar celebrates Chhath with full fervour

Devotees dressed in traditional attire of dhoti or sari, and accompanied by family members marched barefoot to the river banks and ponds singing devotional songs in Maithili, Bhojpuri and Magahi languages.
  
Several families brought along musical instruments and drums with them to give a musical touch on the occasion of the biggest festival of the state.
  
All the routes leading to the ghats wore a spic and span look as municipal bodies, government officials, police personnel, residents all lent their hands to clean roads, streets and lanes. Colourful lights and flower garlands decorated the pathways, as well as, ghats.
  
The devotees placed 'prasada' offerings along the river banks and prayed to the Sun, seeking health and prosperity for themselves and their family members.
  
The prayers ended with oblations of 'Gangajal' to the setting Sun and people celebrated with fireworks to mark the occasion.
  
Many devotees will spend the night at the river ghats or along the lakes or ponds for the final Chhath rituals at sunrise tomorrow.
  
The state administration was on its toes throughout the day to facilitate smooth conduct of rituals and avoid any untoward incident like the Chhath stampede in 2012 in which 22 people lost their lives at Adalat Ghat in the state capital, or the Dussehra stampede on October 3 this year, which claimed 33 lives.
  
Disaster Management Department (DMD) Principal Secretary Vyasji inspected the ghats and other arrangements along the Ganga in Patna and Vaishali districts for the devotees.
  
Apart from the residents of the state capital, a large number of worshippers come to Patna and Vaishali from neighbouring districts to offer Chhath prayers in the holy river.

Source: MP News in Hindi and Chhattisgarh Hindi News

Some Muslims too celebrate Chhath in Bihar

"We have been celebrating Chhath for 34 years and will celebrate it till we breath our last," said Manjoor, in his 50's, from Lala Tola of Sitab Diara, the village of socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan.

Manjoor, a drum beater, goes to river banks with his 'dug-dugi' during the festival.

Nazma, from Mohanpur Haat in Vaishali district, takes part in rituals -- like millions of Hindu women.

"I am not alone. There are dozens of Muslim women like me in nearby villages who celebrate Chhath," said Nazma, in her late 40s.

Muslim women in parts of Bihar have been celebrating Chhath for years, ignoring criticism from hardliners in their community.

It is a matter of faith, say the women, who pray to the sun "like our Hindu counterparts".

Ladli Begum of a village in Samastipur district has celebrated Chhath for eight years. "It has brought good luck to my family. I am happy to observe fast and offer prayers to the sun," she said.

Ladli got attracted after her 10-year-old son fell ill and his condition became serious.

"An elderly neighbour suggested to perform Chhath. It worked like a miracle. My son's health improved and gradually he recovered fully," she said.

Mallika Bano, a resident of Shukla Road in Muzaffarpur, has observed Chhath for 25 long years -- and for good reason.

"My wish to have a son was fulfilled after I performed Chhath (years earlier)," she said.

Hindus see in these Muslims a show of communal harmony.

"It is a rare show of brotherhood as it promotes tolerance and peace," said Kanchan Bala, a woman activist.

The four-day Chhath festival comes after Diwali. It began on Monday when devotees across the state bathed in a ritual called 'Nahai Khai' followed by Kharna on Tuesday night.

Offerings of wheat, milk, sugarcane, bananas and coconuts are made to the sun god.

The festival will conclude on Thursday morning.

Hasan Imam, in his late 40s, a theatre activist from Begusarai district, said his family has performed Chhath for decades.

"There are several Muslim families in Begusarai and the neighbouring districts of Vaishali, Samastipur, Khagaria and Muzaffarpur who celebrate the festival," he said.

In Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga, many Muslims have volunteered to clean up the banks of rivers, ponds and other water bodies and streets for the festival. Some Muslims distributed fruits and new clothes to impoverished Hindu families on the occasion.

Source: MP News in Hindi and Chhattisgarh Hindi News