Preparations for Chhath Puja have intensified along the banks of the Bagmati River at Gaurighat in Kathmandu as the festival approaches.
Work is underway to manage the ghats, clean the area, install lighting, and decorate the riverbank to ensure convenience for fasting devotees and those observing the festival.
The Shree Chhath Puja Committee, Guhyeshwari-Gaurighat, is making arrangements for approximately 550 to 600 devotees observing a fast this year.
To make it convenient for the devotees, carpets are being laid at the ghats, blankets are being provided for those staying overnight, and lighting and decorative illumination are being installed.
According to Dhirendra Kumar Gupta, treasurer of the committee, the ghats have been numbered to help devotees easily identify their designated places for performing rituals.
He said that around 500 ghats have been arranged, with individual ghats marked using designations such as A, B, and R.
The number of devotees observing Chhath for the first time has also increased this year. Gupta said that arrangements have been made to accommodate approximately 100 new devotees.
Similarly, 20 to 22 ghats have been made available free of charge to devotees from financially disadvantaged backgrounds and those in need.
According to Gupta, arrangements have also been made to provide essential puja materials, clothes, fruits, and the traditional Chhath offering, thekuwa, to devotees facing financial difficulties.
"We have made all necessary arrangements to ensure that no devotee faces a shortage of essential materials. With the blessings of Chhathi Mata, preparations are progressing smoothly," Gupta said.
However, clothes required for the rituals have not yet been placed at Gaurighat due to the presence of monkeys in the area. The committee said that these items would be arranged systematically starting Saturday.
Every year during Chhath, large numbers of devotees gather at Gaurighat, bathe in the Bagmati River and offer arghya (ritual offerings) to the setting and rising sun.
