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Religion
Massive Crowds at Budhi Gandak Ghats for Chhath Puja’s Nahay‑Khay Ritual in Muzaffarpur
✍️ Amar Ujala · Muzaffarpur
🗓 13 Nov 2026, 01:34 PM
👁 10
Devotees gathered early on Friday at the Budhi Gandak riverbanks in Muzaffarpur to commence the Chhath Puja ‘nahay‑khay’ ceremony, followed by a satvic meal of arwa rice, chickpea dal and bottle gourd.
On Friday, thousands of worshippers assembled at the banks of the Budhi Gandak river in Muzaffarpur, marking the official start of the Chhath Mahaprav celebrated across Bihar. The gathering began with the traditional "nahay‑khay" ritual, where devotees take a ceremonial bath and observe a period of meditation before proceeding to the puja.
The ritual bathing, known locally as "snan," is followed by a brief period of focused prayer and offering of "arghya" to the setting sun. After the spiritual rites, the crowd moved to the ghats where priests conducted the main worship, invoking Surya and Chhathi Maiya for blessings.
Post‑worship, the participants partook in a strictly vegetarian meal comprising arwa rice, chickpea dal and a simple lauki (bottle‑gourd) sabzi, adhering to the satvic dietary rules of the fast. The meal is prepared without onion, garlic or any non‑vegetarian ingredients, reflecting the purity sought during the observance.
The opening day sets the tone for the ensuing days of fasting, sunrise and sunset offerings, and communal prayers that define the Chhath festival across the region.
The ritual bathing, known locally as "snan," is followed by a brief period of focused prayer and offering of "arghya" to the setting sun. After the spiritual rites, the crowd moved to the ghats where priests conducted the main worship, invoking Surya and Chhathi Maiya for blessings.
Post‑worship, the participants partook in a strictly vegetarian meal comprising arwa rice, chickpea dal and a simple lauki (bottle‑gourd) sabzi, adhering to the satvic dietary rules of the fast. The meal is prepared without onion, garlic or any non‑vegetarian ingredients, reflecting the purity sought during the observance.
The opening day sets the tone for the ensuing days of fasting, sunrise and sunset offerings, and communal prayers that define the Chhath festival across the region.