Chhath Puja 2020: Celebrating Chhath amid Covid-19

Despite the fear of Covid19 pandemic, devotees celebrated Chhath with great enthusiasm

Bearing pain or 'kasht' is a traditional ritual during Chhath, following which some devotees lie down as a gesture of endurance and gratefulness towards the God, on their way to ghats or river banks

River banks or Ghats are decorated with clay lamps and flowers

In New Delhi, traditionally thousands of persons hailing from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh gather at the Yamuna banks for Chhath Puja

Men also observe fast and take part in the rituals with equal enthusiasm

A devotee bathing in the holy water early morning on the third and most important day of the Chhath festival

Women wear a long streak of vermillion from the tip of their nose till the end of their hair's partition

Kins and closed ones of the devotees who observe fast and lead the rituals offer prayer to them

A women offering prayer during the Usha Arghya

On the fourth and last day of the festival, devotees offer prayers to the rising Sun

The fast is broken by consuming and distributing thekua (a sweet snack)

Kalash or the holy pot decorated with coconut and fresh leaves is an important part of the festival

Dozens gathered near a pond in Faridabad in Haryana, dressed in traditional attires and offered prayers to Lord Sun

Devotees observe a three-day long fast during the festival

A devotee making arrangements for worship

The four-day festival usually celebrated with much gaiety and religious fervor mainly in northern and eastern states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal missed it charm this year due to the ongoing pandemic. In New Delhi, for instance, traditionally thousands of persons hailing from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh gather at the Yamuna banks for Chhath Puja.

However, this year, following the ban imposed on public gatherings, the Puja has been a low-key affair, with most devotees praying at home, instead of going and offering prayers on the river banks, lake or pond as is the usual ritual.

Yet, for many celebrations remained the same. Casting aside government warnings on risk of Covid-19 infection, devotees participated in Chhath Puja with traditional gusto in various parts of India. Dozens gathered near a pond in Faridabad in Haryana, dressed in traditional attires and offered prayers to Lord Sun. Following the traditional practice of offering prayers at river banks on the concluding day of the four-day Chhath Puja, devotees were seen offering prayers in various water bodies.

On day one of the festival, devotees take a holy dip in a waterbody and offer prayers. On the second day or Kharna devotees fast without water up to sunset. The following day is the most important day when devotees offer Sandhya Arghya and go without water up to sunrise the next day. The fast is broken by consuming and distributing thekua (a sweet snack). Chhath ends with Usha Arghya, which is the last day of the festival.