Jamshedpur: Devotees across Jamshedpur observed Kharna on Sunday, marking the second and one of the most spiritually significant days of the four-day Chhath festival dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. The day was filled with devotion, fasting, and a sense of spiritual purity as thousands of devotees across the city maintained a day-long nirjala vrat—fasting without even a drop of water—until sunset.
From the early hours of the morning, households buzzed with activity as preparations for the sacred observance began. Homes were thoroughly cleaned and decorated with traditional motifs and earthen lamps, creating an atmosphere of sanctity. The day is considered a time of inner cleansing and devotion, with devotees dedicating their thoughts and prayers to the Sun God, who is believed to bestow health, prosperity, and happiness.
As evening approached, the air filled with the aroma of jaggery-laden kheer, roti, and fruits prepared for the Kharna prasad. The ritual meal is cooked with utmost purity—without salt or onion-garlic—symbolizing simplicity and sanctity. Once the offerings are made to the setting sun, devotees break their fast by partaking in the prasad and sharing it with family members and neighbors, symbolizing gratitude and communal harmony.
For many, Kharna represents the culmination of self-restraint and the beginning of the most auspicious phase of the festival. “The Kharna fast cleanses the mind and body. It is not just a ritual but a reflection of our deep faith and connection with nature,” said Sita Devi, a devotee from Birsanagar. Many devotees also gathered in community spaces, singing traditional Chhath geet (folk songs) that echo devotion and reverence towards the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya.
The observance of Kharna sets the stage for the next two days of rituals—Sandhya Arghya (evening offering) and Usha Arghya (morning offering)—which will be performed at riverbanks and ponds across the city. Authorities have already begun preparations at major ghats, including Subarnarekha Ghat, Two Muhani, and Domuhani, where large crowds are expected. Cleanliness drives, lighting arrangements, and safety measures such as barricades and first-aid stations are being coordinated by the district administration and local committees to ensure smooth conduct of the rituals.
Chhath, one of the oldest festivals of nature worship, transcends religious and social boundaries in Jamshedpur. People from different communities come together to participate, reinforcing a spirit of unity and shared faith. The festival, primarily celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, has steadily become an integral part of Jamshedpur’s cultural fabric, with devotees observing the rituals with the same zeal and discipline year after year.
As night fell on Sunday, the city glowed with lamps and devotion, as families prepared for the next day’s offering to the setting sun—a powerful reminder of humility, gratitude, and the eternal bond between humankind and nature.
