Ranchi Bids Fervent Farewell to Chaiti Chhath as Devotees Offer Usha Arghya

RANCHI: The four-day-long Chaiti Chhath festivities concluded in the capital city on Wednesday morning with thousands of devotees offering Usha Arghya to the rising sun. Clad in traditional attire, men and women stood knee-deep in water at various ponds and dams, marking the completion of their 36-hour rigorous waterless fast.

Major water bodies including Bada Talab, Kanke Dam, Dhuwa Dam, and Button Talab witnessed a sea of devotees. Families gathered at the decorated ghats well before dawn, carrying bamboo baskets (dauras) filled with seasonal fruits, thekua, and sugarcane. As the first rays of the sun appeared, the air was filled with the aroma of incense and the sound of traditional folk songs dedicated to Chhathi Maiya.

To ensure a smooth celebration, the Ranchi district administration and Municipal Corporation (RMC) deployed NDRF teams and local divers at deep-water points. Dedicated lighting, cleanliness drives, and barricading were managed by local puja committees to prevent any untoward incidents.

While the Kartik Chhath remains the larger celebration, the fervor for Chaiti Chhath in Ranchi has seen a steady rise. In the nearby Nagdi village, the ancient tradition of offering prayers at a local spring—linked to the era of the Mahabharata—continued with its characteristic spiritual simplicity.

With the breaking of the fast (Parana) following the morning rituals, devotees distributed ‘Prasad’ among neighbors and relatives, concluding the sacred spring festival.