Chhat festival ends

Kathmandu: The Chhat festival which is especially observed in the lower plains of Nepal concluded on Saturday after ritual bathing in rivers and worship of the rising and setting sun across the country.

The festival is dedicated to Sun God and his sister Chahathi Maiya. Even in Kathmandu, the festival was celebrated by the Madhesi Nepalese on the banks of Bagmati River.

The Chhat begins just four days after the Tihar festival with its beginning on Chaturdashi and ending on Shashti by offering Arghya to the setting sun and the rising sun.

At the end of the Chhat festival, the devotees distribute Prasad to their fellow men and women. Blessing is sought from elderly men and women.

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari and Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun also offered arghya to the rising sun on the concluding day of Chhath.

The fasting women break their 36 hours long fasting by taking ginger water and food. The main learnings from Chhat are inclusion, coordination, and sanctity. This festival in a way brings forth the main leadership of women folk in society that contributes to the welfare of humanity.

The worship of Sun is believed to bring prosperity, progress, and wellbeing in the family.