The members of the Adarsh Uttar Pradesh Samaj of Coimbatore city came together and celebrated the holy Chhath festival at Perur recently.

Chhath festival, celebrated in the month of November, is dedicated to the Sun God and His consort, Usha. Chhath festival is observed to thank the Sun God for life on earth and rituals are performed in a water body.

“The festival’s rituals are rigorous and are observed over a period of four days. They include holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water (Vratta), standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prashad (prayer offerings) and arghya to the setting and rising sun,” Maneshwar Singh, President, Adarsh Uttar Pradesh Samaj, said.

During the first day of this festival, devotees take a dip in a holy river and observe a fast. As per the rules of the fast, devotees are allowed to consume only one meal. A fast is observed on the second day too, and devotees break their fast a little after sunset. Special prayers are offered to the sun and the moon on this day.

“The third and fourth days are important as we offer Sandhya Arghya (evening offerings) and Usha Arghya (morning offerings) on these days. Both the rituals are performed in a water body. We performed these rituals at Perur,” Maneshwar Singh said.

The mood was festive and the members sang folksongs and hymns in praise of the Sun God. Some of the ladies prepared kheer(sweet porridge) and served it as prayer-offerings to the members of the group.