Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, November 18: The four-day Chhath festival ended today with devotees offering ‘Argaya’ this morning to the rising sun.
Hundreds of devotees thronged the Seashore of Corbyn Cove early in the morning to offer ‘argaya’ to the rising Sun god.
Hundreds of people, mainly women, marked the Chhath festival across Port Blair City on Wednesday by fasting, praying, singing traditional songs and making offerings to the setting sun.
Devotees attired in new clothes sang folk songs as they prayed to the sun god and set lit earthen lamps afloat on Seashore of Corbyn’s Cove.
The four-day-long Chhath festival began on Monday as devotees took a dip in the sea, a tradition known as ‘nahai khai’.
It was followed by the ritual of ‘kharna’ on Tuesday, when sweet dishes were prepared.
Married women fast for 36 hours during the festival. Devotees traditionally offer wheat, milk, sugar cane, bananas and coconuts to the sun.
“My greetings on the auspicious occasion of Chhath Puja. May the blessings of the sun god brighten our lives with joy, peace and prosperity,” Member of Parliament Mr Bishnu Pada Ray said while talking to Channel One News Yesterday at Corbyn’s Cove Beach.
Chhath festival had come up in the islands from last year when a Chhath committee requested the Deputy Commissioner that they want to celebrate Chhath festival in Corbyn’s Cove every year, which was welcomed by the administration.
Talking to Channel One News yesterday at Corbyn’s Cove, Sub Divisional Magistrate, South Andaman also greeted the people of the islands on the auspicious occasion of Chhath Puja and also briefed the importance and reason behind celebrating Chhath Puja.
