As dawn broke over Prayagraj this week, the final ceremonies of Chhath Puja unfolded along the city’s sacred river ghats. Thousands of devotees gathered before sunrise to complete the four-day festival with deep devotion, traditional songs, and ritual offerings to the rising sun.
Gathering at the Ghats
Early in the morning, women and their families assembled at several riverbanks across the city — especially at the Sangam ghats — to offer the concluding prayer known as Usha Arghya. Many arrived hours before dawn; the riverside was alive with quiet anticipation, the air thick with incense, devotional hymns, and ritual purpose.
Devotees wore bright, festive attire — many women dressed like brides in vibrant saris, carrying bamboo baskets laden with offerings. Men, children, and extended family members stood alongside them, participating in the final solemn acts of the fast.
Rituals & Offerings
The conclusion of the fast involved a number of symbolic and deeply meaningful rituals:
- As the first rays of the sun appeared, devotees stood waist-deep in water and offered “Arghya” — small ceremonial offerings of water or milk — toward the Sun God as a gesture of reverence and gratitude.
- Prior to the prayer, some took holy dips in the river, cleansing themselves in preparation for the act of worship.
- Devotional folk songs in praise of Chhathi Maiya (the goddess associated with Chhath) filled the air, echoing across the water and through the gathering crowds.
- The offerings included traditional prasad items such as thekua (a kind of sweet biscuit), kheer (a milk-rice pudding), seasonal fruits, sweets — all arranged in small baskets made of bamboo. After the Usha Arghya, families shared the prasad as part of breaking the fast and celebrating together.
Children also brought a festive note: an atmosphere of quiet joy was heightened by occasional bursts of crackers and laughter as families gathered along the water’s edge.
Cultural Significance & Personal Stories
For many participants, this ceremony is more than ritual — it is a matter of legacy, culture, and familial identity:
- Some families treat Chhath as an unbroken tradition passed through generations. Skipping it is rare and often only happens in exceptional circumstances (for example, mourning after a death in the family).
- One devotee mentioned travelling from far off places to join her extended family in Prayagraj for this final ritual, underscoring how the festival brings relatives together.
- Newly-married women performing Chhath for the first time with their husband’s family find the closing ritual especially meaningful — a way to connect spiritually as well as socially with their in-laws and community.
The Spiritual & Social Resonance
This final moment of Chhath Puja, while deeply religious, is also a moment of social communion:
- The Usha Arghya symbolizes not just the ending of a fast, but also prayers for health, prosperity, and family welfare. It marks both a spiritual renewal and a shared sense of belonging.
- The festival’s rituals reinforce values such as discipline, faith in nature (especially the Sun), and respect for tradition — even as city life modernizes and changes.
- By gathering in public spaces like ghats at dawn, people reaffirm their connection to the rivers, to community, to their pasts, and to each other.
Reflections & Aftermath
With the fast broken and prayers offered, families slowly dispersed into the early morning light. Some remained by the riverbanks to enjoy the calm after ceremony; others returned home to reunite with loved ones, exchanging blessings and reflecting on the spiritual journey of the past days.
For many, Chhath Puja ends not merely as a festival, but as a source of renewed hope — hope for harmony in the family, gratitude for life’s blessings, and an enduring tie to traditions that span lifetimes.
