Ranchi, Oct. 25 -- The great festival of faith and devotion, Chhath Mahaparv, began across Jharkhand today with the auspicious ritual of Nahay-Khay.
From the capital Ranchi to other districts, devotees thronged rivers, ponds, and reservoirs early in the morning to take holy dips and offer prayers to the Sun God, marking the beginning of their four-day-long sacred observance.
The Chhath festival, deeply rooted in folk traditions and spiritual purity, spans four days and involves rituals of bathing, fasting, and worshipping the Sun God (Surya Dev) and Chhathi Maiya.
On the first day, Nahay-Khay, devotees purify themselves with holy baths and consume a simple satvik meal comprising pumpkin curry, Bengal gram dal, and plain rice. This ritual...