Hyderabad: Water bodies were being readied for Chhath Puja celebrations that begin on Friday, with devotees from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal preparing for the four-day festival dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya.
Arrangements are being made at Bathukamma Ghat on the Hussainsagar, as well as at Durgam Cheruvu and the lakes at Hasmathpet, Shamirpet, Miyapur and Uppal in coordination with Bihar associations and local civic bodies.
According to the Bihar Association, nearly 7 lakh people from Bihar and neighbouring regions live in the twin cities, including IT professionals, corporate employees, workers in other industries and students.
Raju Ojha of the Bihar Samaj Seva Sangh said the state government had been extending support for the celebrations. “This year, we have arranged a Ganga Aarti. A team of sages from Varanasi will perform here,” he said.
The associations expressed concern over inadequate train connectivity to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, saying passengers were finding it difficult to secure reservations. They said most services were special trains carrying additional fares, while regular services remained limited.
South Central Railway (SCR) said it was operating nearly 400 special train services during November to meet the festive rush, particularly towards Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and other destinations.
The Railway Protection Force has deployed personnel to regulate passenger movement, ensure orderly boarding and prevent overcrowding on platforms.
Chhath Puja begins on November 13 with Nahay Khay, when devotees take a ritual bath and follow a sattvik diet. Kharna follows on November 14, with devotees fasting during the day and preparing prasad in the evening.
On November 15, devotees will gather at water bodies to offer prayers to the setting Sun during Sandhya Arghya. The festival concludes on November 16 with Usha Arghya, when prayers are offered to the rising Sun.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
