Prayagraj Households Prepare for Upcoming Chhath Puja Festivities

In the days leading up to the Chhath Puja festival, the city of Prayagraj is alive with preparations. Households across the city are bustling with activity as women begin the process of cleaning, decorating, and gathering the essential items needed for the three-day fast and rituals.

On Friday, just a day before the festivities begin, markets in areas like Civil Lines, Chowk, and Katra were packed with devotees purchasing the traditional materials used in Chhath worship. These include bamboo baskets, earthen lamps, sugarcane, coconuts, and seasonal fruits. The four-day celebration will commence on Saturday with the first ritual, Nahay-Khay, where women bathe in holy water and consume a simple meal.

Meanwhile, the local authorities have been working to ensure the safety and sanitation of the ghats along the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, which will be the focal point of the celebrations. Extra cleaning staff have been deployed to prepare the ghats, which have been affected by heavy silt deposits due to multiple floods this year. The ghats are also being equipped with temporary changing rooms, drinking water facilities, and security arrangements to accommodate the large crowds expected over the weekend.