Patna: On the third day of Bihar’s revered Chhath festival, thousands of devotees gathered at ghats across the state, including the Ganga Ghat in Patna, as they offered evening arghya (prayers) to the setting sun. Crowds filled Chhath Ghats in cities such as Buxar, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Munger, and Bhagalpur, with others performing the ritual on rooftops and in ponds closer to home.
The evening arghya saw a convergence of Dhriti Yoga, Ravi Yoga, and Jaid Yoga, believed to be an auspicious alignment in Hindu astrology. Devotees arrived at the ghats early in the afternoon, carrying traditional offerings in daura and soop baskets, symbolizing their dedication to Chhath Maiya.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar marked the occasion by offering arghya at his official residence, where he prayed for peace, happiness, and prosperity for Bihar. Meanwhile, Union Health Minister and BJP President JP Nadda arrived in Patna to partake in the festivities. Together with Chief Minister Kumar and Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary, Nadda inspected various Chhath Ghats by steamer, travelling from Nasriganj Ghat in Danapur to Gayghat in Patna City.
Later in the evening, Nadda joined the festivities at the residence of BJP MLC Anil Sharma at 6:20 pm. He is also expected to pay tribute to the late folk singer Sharda Sinha, whose songs have become an enduring symbol of Chhath. Following this, he will visit Minister Nitin Naveen’s residence at 7:00 pm and Minister Mangal Pandey’s home at 7:40 pm to participate in further Chhath celebrations, extending his greetings and respect to devotees across Patna.
