Did Delhi and Assam CMs Offer ‘Usha Arghya’ on the Final Day of Chhath Puja?
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New Delhi, Oct 28 (NationPress) As the four-day festival of Chhath Puja came to a close with the sacred offering of 'Usha Arghya', the Chief Minister of Delhi, Rekha Gupta, and the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Tuesday sent their sincere prayers to Lord Suryadev and Chhathi Maiya, imploring blessings of joy, wealth, and tranquility for every home.
In a post on the social media platform X, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta stated, “I offered morning prayers to Lord Suryadev alongside Chhath devotees at Hathi Ghat. We beseech Suryadev to enrich every family with happiness, prosperity, and health, to imbue every home with peace, and to inspire faith in every heart. May the grace of Chhathi Maiya illuminate every courtyard in Delhi, making our capital a beacon of faith, cleanliness, and culture. Jai Chhathi Maiya.”
Similarly, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma extended his greetings to devotees via X, stating, “‘Usha Arghya’ signifies the final day of Chhath Puja, representing renewed hope, vigor, and abundance. Devotees gather at the ghats before dawn to offer arghya to the rising sun, marking the end of their fast. I wish all Vratis and their families happiness, peace, and prosperity from the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya.”
In another update, Sarma shared, “It was a great honor to receive the blessings of Chhathi Maiya along with devotees during the final ritual of Chhath Mahaparva. Jai Surya Bhagwan.”
According to the Hindu calendar, Chhath Puja falls on the sixth day (Shashthi Tithi) of the Kartik month’s Shukla Paksha, typically occurring six days after Diwali. This celebration spans four days, starting with Nahay Khay and concluding with Usha Arghya, involving prayers to the rising sun.
The festival kicks off with Nahay Khay (October 25), when devotees bathe in holy waters and prepare a modest meal. The second day, known as Kharna (October 26), involves a day-long fast that ends with offerings of rasiya (sweet porridge) and roti. The third day features Sandhya Arghya, during which participants observe a nirjala vrat (fast without water) until the early hours of the fourth day (Usha Arghya).
The origins of Chhath Puja are rooted in ancient traditions. Legend has it that Lord Rama and Goddess Sita performed the inaugural Chhath Puja upon their return to Ayodhya to seek blessings from the Sun God for prosperity.
As one of the most prominent Hindu festivals, Chhath Puja is mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, and it is also observed in parts of Nepal and among Indian communities around the globe.