Janakpur: Recently, Chhath festival concluded with devotees offering Argha (curd and offerings) to the rising sun on riverbanks and ponds across Nepal. The festival was celebrated with the main pooja (worship) on October 27, particularly at the Dudhmati River in Dhanusha district, a site of deep religious significance linked to Goddess Sita, daughter of King Janak of Mithila.
According to religious texts, the Dudhmati River is believed to have originated from the foam of milk that spilled while young Sita drank milk from the divine Kamdhenu Cow. Marking one of Nepal’s most revered festivals, devotees in Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha, Saptari, and other districts of Mithila performed rituals along rivers, lakes, and ponds. Chhath is celebrated to worship the rising and setting suns, expressing gratitude for life, prosperity, and well-being.
The festival symbolizes truth, nonviolence, and harmony, bringing together people from diverse communities. Devotees observed rigorous fasting, with many abstaining even from water, believing that offering Argha to the Sun God ensures good health, happiness, and longevity for the family.
