AMN
The ritual of Kharna is observed today in the ongoing folk festival Chhath Puja in Bihar. After offering prayers to Sun God Devotees which are popular as Parbaitin (परबैतिन) are taking Kharna Prasad of Kheer, Puri and fruits. After that they will observe fast without water.
The fast will end on Saturday morning after offering oblations or Pratah Arghya to the rising Sun at Chhath ghats.
Tomorrow, the evening obligations or Sandhya Arghya will be offered to the setting Sun on the Chhath ghats. The Four day long festival will culminate on Saturday morning with Pratah Arghya.
AIR Correspondent reports that the biggest festival of Bihar, the Chhath puja mainly consists of fasting, folklore, devotional songs, hymns together on the banks of rivers and fresh water bodies.
The fervor and gaiety of the Chhath Puja is not dampened due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. Traditional Chhath geet and chorus in the several parts of the state turned the ambience in devotional mode.
Chhath ghats on the banks of rivers, water bodies are illuminated with colorful lights presenting beautiful scenes in different parts of the state. The state government has appealed to people to observe Covid-19 protocol to check the spread of pandemic during festival season.
Devotees have been requested to perform Chhath Puja at their home to avert huge mass gatherings on the ghats. To avoid congregation at famous Sun temples of Aurangabad, Patna, Nalanda and other parts of the state Chhath Mela and cultural programmes have been already cancelled.