Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday morning offered Arghya to the rising Sun at his official residence in Patna, bringing the four-day-long Chhath Puja to a devotional close. The Chief Minister was joined by his son Nishant Kumar, family members, and close associates, including former IAS officer and JD(U) leader Manish Verma.
Standing beside a swimming pool symbolising the sacred river, the Chief Minister performed the traditional morning rituals of Usha Arghya, offering prayers to Lord Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya for the prosperity and well-being of the people of Bihar.
On Monday evening, Nitish Kumar had extended his greetings to the people of the state on social media, describing Chhath as a festival that “embodies devotion, self-restraint, and gratitude.”
“Congratulations and best wishes to the people of the state and the country on the occasion of the grand festival of folk faith, Chhath,” he wrote. “This festival symbolises purity of mind and self-discipline. On this occasion, we pray to Lord Bhaskar for the progress, happiness, peace, and prosperity of the state.”
The Chief Minister’s residence has been hosting Chhath rituals for several years, continuing a long-standing family tradition. Nishant Kumar, who accompanied his father during the Arghya ceremony, was seen assisting in the arrangements and distributing prasad after the prayers.
The morning marked the conclusion of Bihar’s most revered festival, during which devotees observe a 36-hour waterless fast and offer prayers to both the setting and rising Sun, expressing gratitude for life and nature’s sustenance.
