Hathua/Patna: In Machagar Lachiram village of Hathua block in Gopalganj district, devotion knows no religious boundary. As the Chhath festival unfolds across Bihar, nearly twenty Muslim families in this small village are busy cleaning ghats, preparing prasad, and singing Bhojpuri folk songs — embracing a tradition that has become a part of their lives for generations.
The air in the village is thick with the fragrance of jaggery and rice as families prepare for the sacred rituals of Nahay-Khay and Arghya. From dawn to dusk, melodies of traditional Argh songs float through the homes of both Hindus and Muslims, reflecting a shared rhythm of reverence and joy.
Among those leading the preparations is Idu Mian, who, along with fellow residents Seraj, Rehana, Rukhsana, and Rabina, has been scrubbing ghats and arranging puja materials with devotion. “In our family, the tradition of Chhath Puja has been carried forward for generations,” he said. “Whenever a wish is fulfilled or a difficult time passes, a member of our family observes Chhath with full rituals.”
For Idu and others, Chhath is not merely a religious observance but a festival of faith and fraternity. “This festival teaches patience, purity, and unity,” he said. “We see it as a way to thank the Sun God, but also as a celebration of mutual respect between communities.”
Villagers say that in Machagar Lachiram, Hindu and Muslim families work side by side to clean and decorate the riverbank ghats, arrange offerings, and distribute prasad after the puja. The act has long blurred religious lines, turning Chhath into a collective expression of gratitude and belonging.
“Here, we don’t ask who the devotee is or which faith they follow,” said a local resident. “Everyone comes together for the same purpose — to give thanks and to celebrate life.”
This enduring tradition of inclusivity stands out in an era often marked by division. What began as an individual act of reverence has evolved into a shared legacy of communal harmony, with Chhath serving as both a ritual of faith and a testament to social unity.
In Machagar Lachiram, Chhath Puja is not confined to one religion or household. It is a village-wide celebration — a living reminder that devotion, when shared, can bridge every divide.
Chhath-Puja-Communal-Harmony-Machagar-Lachiram-Village
