‘Arawa-Arawain’ ritual is being observed today – the first day of the great festival of Mithila zone, Chhath.
The ‘Arawa-Arawain’ is also considered the day to take holy dip to purify own body.
Devotees start fasting from the day of Araba-Arabain by avoiding the consumption of meat, fish, turnip, onion, millet and yellow lentil.
Worships are offered to life-sustaining source of power, the god Sun, and the goddess Chhathi on the day.
The festival is celebrated in ancient Mithila’s capital, Janakpurdham, with great joy and excitement. The Chhath celebration here has also gained international fame and popularity.
Begun with rigorous fasting on Kartik shukla panchami, the devotees go to nearby rivers and ponds and worship the setting sun. Then, they worship the rising sun with special homage and conclude the festival.
Sasthi tithi (the day between panchami and saptami) is a special day of this festival.
It is considered a very tough festival requiring devotees to sit for strict fasting during two days.
Various ponds and rivers banks across the country are being cleaned up and decorated to mark the Chhath festival with fanfare. RSS
