Chhath Puja in Jharkhand Concludes Peacefully With Rituals and Devotions

Ranchi, Oct 28 (PTI) – On the concluding day of Chhath Puja, devotees across Jharkhand gathered in large numbers at various ghats to pay homage to the rising sun. Lakhs of devotees assembled early in the morning along riverbanks and other water bodies to offer 'Usha Arghya' while devotional songs played and firecrackers lit up the skies.

Despite the vast crowds, the festival concluded peacefully in most of the state, except for a few scattered incidents of drowning, an official stated. Prominent figures participated in the festivities, with JMM leader and Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Manji offering her prayers at Ranchi's Hatnia pond.

Leader of Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly and state BJP chief Babulal Marandi presented 'Usha Arghya' in his constituency, Raj Dhanwar, along a nearby water body. Former Chief Minister Raghubar Das also joined the celebrations at Suryadham in Jamshedpur.

"I extend my prayers to Chhathi Maiya, hoping she blesses everyone with happiness and good health," expressed Mahua Manji. A significant number of over 150 jail inmates across various prisons in the state participated in observing the Chhath rituals.

The four-day celebration commenced on October 25 with the 'Nahai Khai' ritual. This festival is marked on the sixth day of 'Kartik Shukla,' occurring six days post-Diwali.

To ensure public safety during the festivities, extensive security measures were implemented throughout Jharkhand. Additional police forces, drones, and CCTV cameras were deployed in major urban areas, including Ranchi, Dhanbad, and Jamshedpur, as reported by a senior police officer.

NDRF teams were strategically positioned across the region to safeguard devotees during the events, the official added.