President Ramchandra Paudel waving to devotees after arriving at Gaurighat to attend Chhat festival on Sunday. (Photo: Nepalkhabar)
President Ramchandra Paudel has reached the Guheshwari Temple premises in Gaurighat to attend the Chhath festival.
Chhath is being celebrated in 13 different reservoirs of the Kathmandu Valley including Kamal Pokhari, Kupandol, Gaurighat, Nag Pokhari, and Gahana Pokhari have been decked like a bride. Preparations are underway to celebrate the Chhath festival by offering argha to the setting sun today.
Devotees take holy baths, offer Argha to the setting sun in the evening today, and observe a fast and stay awake all night. The festival concludes on Monday (Saptami of the Kartik Sukla Paksha according to the lunar calendar) by offering Argha to the rising sun.
Earlier, presidents also visited Guheshwari to celebrate Chhath.
The festival which began with 'Nahay Khay on Friday is observed for four days, from Kartik Shukala Chaturthi to Kartik Shukla Saptami as per the lunar calendar.
The second day is called Kharana, Argha is offered to the setting sun on the third day and the Chhat concludes with the offering of Argha to the rising sun on the fourth day.
It is widely believed that observing a fast in obeisance of Sun God will bring in desired results and well-being for the family and all of their sorrows and troubles will vanish away.
Meanwhile, the federal government has announced a public holiday today to mark the festival. This year, the festival will conclude on coming Monday with the rising sun.
The number of people celebrating Chhath festival is increasing in the hilly region including the Kathmandu Valley, of late, aside from the Tarai region.
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