छठ: तराईको आस्थादेखि राष्ट्रिय पर्वसम्म

In English

Chhath: From the faith of the Terai to a national festival

The Chhath festival, which involves the worship of the Sun God and Chhathi Mata, began this year on Friday, the 27th of Kartik. This festival, which was limited to the Terai-Madhesh region, is now being celebrated as a national festival in various parts of the country, including the Kathmandu Valley. This four-day festival involves rituals of bathing and eating (Nahai-Khaya), Kharna, offering Arghya to the setting sun, and offering Arghya to the rising sun. According to Anil Singh, Chairman of the Gauri Ghat Chhath Puja Management Committee, arrangements for worship have been made in 17 locations in the Kathmandu Valley alone. A total of 580 worship sites have been constructed in Gauri Ghat alone. This festival, celebrated for family happiness, prosperity, and the long life of children, presents an example of social unity and cultural coexistence. Local governments and the Pashupati Area Development Trust have been assisting in the management of the worship. However, pollution of rivers and lakes remains a major challenge for Chhath.

Machine translation — the original above is the story as filed.