Chhath Puja Day 3: Devotees offer Sandhya Arghya to setting sun, actress Akshara Singh joins celebration

Patna (Bihar) [India], November 15 (ANI): Scenes of devotion and celebration marked the third day of Chhath Puja across the country, as thousands of devotees gathered at riverbanks, ghats and water bodies to offer Sandhya Arghya to the setting Sun. 
From Patna and Haridwar to Lucknow and Hyderabad, colourful visuals captured the deep-rooted faith, traditions and festive spirit associated with the four-day festival dedicated to Chhathi Maiya and the Sun God.
In Patna, Bihar, devotees turned out in large numbers at Chhath ghats to perform the evening rituals, offering prayers and traditional offerings to the setting Sun. The ghats witnessed a vibrant atmosphere, with families coming together to observe the sacred occasion.


The Patna District Administration also stepped up its preparations to ensure the smooth and peaceful celebration of the festival. The NDRF, along with other emergency response teams, has also been deployed to deal with any unforeseen situation.
Adequate security arrangements, safety measures and other essential facilities are being ensured at the ghats. The administration is keeping a close watch on the situation to ensure that devotees can perform the rituals safely and without any inconvenience.
With the arrival of thousands of devotees, the ghats across Patna are witnessing a festive atmosphere as the city gears up for the sandhya arghya rituals of Chhath Mahaparv. 
Actress Akshara Singh was also seen arriving at a ghat to perform rituals on the third day of the festival. 


Sharing her experience with ANI, she said, "Right now, we're just finishing up the evening prayers and heading home. I am feeling really good, and this feeling is just beyond this world. This feeling is incomparable; we should take everyone and all our traditions and prayers along."
Union Minister Chirag Paswan, speaking in Patna, highlighted how Chhath Puja strengthens family bonds and brings people together.

"Chhath always brings joy, and it keeps the family united. We all come together to prepare for the festival. During these four days, no matter how busy I may be with party, ministerial, or governmental responsibilities, I make a conscious effort to dedicate the majority of my time to my family and loved ones," he said.
Emphasising the festival's personal and spiritual significance, Paswan added that his faith in Chhathi Maiya had remained steadfast through the ups and downs of life. He also spoke about his vision of a developed Bihar, reiterating his belief in the philosophy of 'Bihar First, Bihari First'.
Meanwhile, in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, devotees gathered at the iconic ‘Har Ki Pauri’ to offer Arghya to the setting Sun on the third day of the festival. The riverfront was filled with devotees observing the rituals with prayers and traditional offerings.

In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, folk singer Malini Awasthi participated in the grand Chhath celebrations. 

“This is perhaps the fifteenth or sixteenth time I have come to perform at this grand Chhath festival, organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Bhojpuri Samaj...although Lucknow is part of the Awadh region, such a large number of people from the Purvanchal community reside here that they don’t need to travel back home; the Gomti River transforms into the Ganges for them...it is my good fortune to have had the opportunity to perform here today, in the presence of the Chief Minister. On a day like this, one does not sing for the sake of a crowd, but for the sake of devotion—for the devotees themselves...the Chief Minister himself hails from the Purvanchal region—from Gorakhpur—where the Chhath festival is celebrated with immense enthusiasm,” Awasthi told ANI.
Likewise, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited Kolkata’s Outram Ghat to take part in Chhath Puja celebrations, accompanied by several state ministers. 


Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul and Minister of State for Sports Indranil Khan accompanied Adhikari during his visit.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also attended the Chhath Mahaparv celebrations in the national capital and offered 'Sandhya Arghya' to the setting sun at Sonia Vihar Ghat.

During her visit for the evening festivities, the Chief Minister also boarded a boat at the Sonia Vihar Boat Club.
Visuals from the ghat showed CM Gupta performing the 'Sandhya Arghya' rituals as part of the ongoing Chhath Puja celebrations on Sunday evening. 
Speaking to reporters here at the Yamuna Ghats, CM Gupta also offered prayers to Chhathi Maiya, seeking blessings for the well-being of the citizens and the vision of a developed India and Delhi under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"I, too, pray at the feet of Chhathi Maiya to bestow her blessings upon all of us—the people of India and the residents of Delhi. May she bless Prime Minister Narendra Modi, so that under his leadership, we may achieve a Viksit Bharat and a Viksit Delhi, and may every family attain prosperity and happiness," Gupta said.
In Hyderabad, Telangana, devotees gathered at Necklace Road to offer Arghya to the setting Sun. 
The third day, known as ‘Sandhya Arghya’, holds special significance in Chhath Puja, as devotees observe a rigorous fast and offer prayers to the setting Sun. The celebrations will conclude on the fourth day with ‘Usha Arghya’, when devotees offer prayers to the rising Sun, bringing the four-day festival to a close. 
Chhath Puja is a four-day festival dedicated to the Sun God (Surya Dev) and Chhathi Maiya (Goddess Shasthi), observed to express gratitude to the Sun for sustaining life on Earth and to seek blessings for good health, prosperity, and longevity. This year, the celebrations are being held from November 13 to 16. (ANI)