Pune: The grand celebrations of the four-day, Chhath Puja is in full swing in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. On Tuesday, first offering or evening offering called Sandhya Arghya or Pehla Argh took place at ponds and river banks.
The third day of Chhath Puja is known as ‘Sandhya Arghya’ as all the rituals take place in the evening. Devotees stand in water for long hours and pray for their family and loved ones.
A full day fast without water is observed on the third day of Chhath Puja. Offering Arghya to the setting sun is the main ritual of the day. It is the only time of the year when Arghya is given to the setting sun.
People were seen in large numbers celebrating the festival in Viman Nagar, Kalyani Nagar, Wagholi, Lohegaon, Ganeshnagar, Moshi, Alandi, Chinchwad, Warje and other places in the city. During the festival volunteers of Bihar Foundation distributed water to family members of the ‘vratis’ (devotees who fast).
After the first offering on Tuesday, women devotees return home and continue with their stringent fast by completely abstaining from food and water. They will go back to the same ghat next day on Wednesday, to make the second offering or morning offering called ‘Usha Arghya’ or ‘Dusra Argh’. The sweet aroma of traditional delicacy ‘thekua’ fills the air as they are distributed as prasad after the puja is over.
