Chhath, the great festival of Sun worship, is not just a festival, but an emotional journey which shows devotion to faith, folk culture and nature. Not only in Bihar, this festival has now spread its roots in every corner of the country, making it one of the biggest cultural tourism experiences of the country.
If you want to experience the most grand and amazing scenes of Chhath Puja, then Bihar Apart from the historical ghats of India, visit the ghats of these 5 major states of the country. The devotional atmosphere here will give you an unforgettable experience.
The ghats of Kashi and Prayagraj are famous.
Eastern due to its proximity to Bihar Uttar Pradesh The tradition of Chhath Puja is very old and deep, the view of Chhath at the ghats of Varanasi and Prayagraj is worth seeing. Chhath festival has special significance in the spiritual city of Kashi. At these major ghats of Ganga, lakhs of devotees offer prayers to the setting and rising sun. The Ganga Aarti and traditional songs of Chhath here make the devotional atmosphere even more divine. Ganga Aarti and traditional songs of Chhath here during Chhath provide a great opportunity to experience the local culture. It is a wonderful experience to see this supernatural view by boat ride on the ghats. Whereas in Sangam city, Chhath fasting people worship at the meeting place of Ganga, Yamuna and invisible Saraswati. This place is famous for the huge crowd of devotees and the amazing scene of faith.
Delhi-NCR – Grand event on the banks of Yamuna
Delhi, the capital of the country, is the center of large population of people from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Here a grand celebration of Chhath Puja takes place on the banks of river Yamuna and on the temporary ghats built by the Delhi government. Kalandi Kunj and ITO Ghat, thousands of people gather at these places every year. Keeping in view the crowd, artificial ponds are constructed by the administration so that the devotees do not face any problem in offering Arghya.
Despite being separated from Bihar, the tradition of Chhath Puja is alive in Jharkhand. The beauty of the ghats here is different due to being surrounded by natural environment. The special splendor of Chhath is seen at ‘Domuhani’, the confluence of Subarnarekha and Kharkai rivers in Domuhani Ghat of Jamshedpur. The entire area sparkles with the decorations and lights placed on the banks of the river. These tranquil reservoirs in the capital Ranchi are the main center for Chhath fasts, where Sun God is worshiped amidst the beauty of nature.
West Bengal, banks of Hooghly River
Kolkata is also known for grand celebration of Chhath Puja. Here the communities from Bihar and Purvanchal have established this festival as their cultural identity. Babu Ghat situated on the banks of Hooghly river is a major center of Chhath Puja. Apart from this, the famous Rabindra Sarovar (lake) of Kolkata is also a place where a large number of Chhath devotees gather. The folk music of Chhath and the aroma of making Prasad on the ghats here present a special Bengali-Bihari confluence.
Maharashtra, flood of faith at Juhu Chowpatty
Organizing Chhath Puja in the country’s financial capital Mumbai has given a ‘national’ character to this festival. The largest and famous Chhath Ghat in Mumbai is built on Juhu Chowpatty (Sea Beach). Thousands of devotees gather at Juhu Chowpatty, on the banks of the Arabian Sea. This scene of offering Arghya to the Sun combines the waves of the sea and the faith of the devotees, which makes it one of the most unique Chhath Ghats of the country.
Today Chhath Puja is no longer just a regional festival, but it has become a symbol of cultural unity of India.
Also read: Not only Patna, these 5 ghats of Bihar are also famous for Chhath Puja.
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