Kataka: Hundreds of women observing the traditional Chhath vrat thronged the banks of the Mahanadi and Kathajodi rivers in Kataka on Sunday to offer prayers to the Sun God on the auspicious occasion of Chhath Puja.
The riverbanks, particularly Gadagadia Ghat, witnessed a festive atmosphere as devotees arrived in large numbers, many of them in processions, to perform the traditional rituals. Women observing the fast offered Arghya to the setting Sun, accompanied by offerings of sugarcane, seasonal fruits and roots.
The festival, predominantly celebrated by the Bihari community settled in Kataka, is an expression of reverence for nature, with the Sun God, water and the atmosphere forming the central elements of worship. Devotees believe that observing the rituals brings happiness, peace and prosperity to their families.
Chhath Puja is observed on the Shashthi tithi of the Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik. The festival holds special significance across eastern and northern India, particularly in Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, and is regarded as one of the most important religious and community festivals of the Bihari people.
Elaborate security arrangements were put in place along the banks of the Mahanadi and Kathajodi rivers to ensure the smooth and peaceful observance of the festival amid the large gathering of devotees.
