Chhath begins with worship of sunday, Usha and Pratyusha

KANPUR: Chhath puja began with devotion on Friday. Special prayers were held at houses and devotees remained busy in the final preparations of special prayer that will be held on remaining three days at ghats and ponds.
Goddess Chhathi Maiyya is worshipped by devotees. She is also known as Usha which means the first ray of light. According to mythology, Usha and Pratyusha (last light of the day) were the wives of Sun God and both are worshipped along with the Sun.
People worship both the forms of the Sun God that is the 'rising sun' and the 'setting sun'. "Devotees start gathering from early in the morning and late in the evening to worship the setting sun," Suman Jha, a devotee who had observed fast on Friday, said. There are different ways to offer puja. "Few people go deep inside the water to perform the rituals and some just stay outside and do it for outside," she added.
Special rituals, prayers and food are the highlights of the festival which is popular in Bihari community. But over the years, it had gained popularity among people of other region and faith.
Another Devotee Vidya Kumari said special Chhath songs and Katha are read as a part of rituals during the puja ceremony. The first day is dedicated to fasting and the next for worshipping at ghat. The third day of Chhath Puja starts with Sandhya Arghya, which means offering prayers to the sun during sunset.
"On this day, we observe a fast until sunrise next day. Marking the end of Chhath Puja on the fourth day, is the Suryodaya Arghya, where we pray to the sun early morning," she explained.
Special offerings for this puja are roti and 'kheer'. Fasting is specially done by women for prosperity and long life of sons, another devotee said.
Markets are full of puja essentials like pots and bamboo baskets, bamboo or brass soop for Chhath Puja.
Various cultural events are organised at the places. Some of the preferred ponds for the devotees to gather and perform puja this year are Armapur Canal, Panki Canal, CTI, Barra, Ganga Barrage, Nauriya Kheda, Sarsaiyya Ghat, Vijay Nagar, Namak Factory and others.