Lucknow: Devotees to have Chhath Puja at ponds in parks, pool

LUCKNOW: This year, devotees in Lucknow will celebrate Chhath Puja at home. In view of the pandemic, a number of devotees will offer prayers and perform only important rituals in artificial ponds made in nearby parks and grounds rituals and there will be no cultural activities.
The festivities will start with ‘nahaye-khaye’ on Wednesday morning when ‘vratis’ (devotees keeping fast) wake up early, take bath and offer prayers.On Thursday, devotees will celebrate ‘kharna’ and fast without food and water from sunrise.
The main puja is on Friday, when devotees offer the first ‘arghya’ to the Sun God at sunset, and light earthen lamps and perform prayers with food and fruit offerings in basket. On final day, devotees offer the second ‘arghya’ at the sunrise on river banks.
The women keep 36-hour long fast during Chhath. As per tradition, the ‘arghya’ is offered on river banks, and devotees gathered at Laxman Mela Ground and Jhulelal Ghat, but this year due to Covid-19, most devotees will celebrate the festival at home.
Ayushi Singh, a resident of LDA Colony, said, “Seven women in my neighbourhood celebrate Chhath Puja. We used to go to Laxman Mela ground two days prior to the festival, prepare the ‘vedi’ (seat of worship) and offered prayers to the sun god. This time we collectively got an artificial pond dug up at a nearby park. We will fill it with water and will then perform puja.”
Anshu Chandel has decided to perform the rituals on her terrace where she has put two water tanks to give ‘arghya’.
“Traditionally, the entire worship is done on the banks of a river. But, this time, it is not safe to throng ponds or river banks. My sister-in-law and I will begin the puja with ‘nahaye-khaye’ and end it with by taking a dip in the water tank,” said Chandel.
Akhil Bharatiya Bhojpuri Samaj has also found an alternative. “There is a swimming pool in our vicinity where all ‘vratis’ can offer ‘arghya’ and take a dip. We will decorate the pool with flowers and earthen lamps and play Chhath songs,” said ABBS president Prabhunath Rai. ABBS has been organising Chhath Puja at Laxman Mela ground for the past 35 years.
“We have appealed devotees to celebrate the festival at home this year for the safety of all. We also request those going to the ghats to maintain social distancing, wear masks and avoid crowding,” he added.