The Chhath festival began in Dehradun on Wednesday. Devotees and volunteers were seen cleaning the Tons River at Tapkeshwar and other flowing water bodies in the State capital. In the Hindu calendar, during the Kartik month the devotees conduct rituals for two days during the Chhath festival.
The Chhath Puja is performed in order to thank Surya (sun) for sustaining life on earth and to beseech him for granting certain wishes of the devotees.
The sun, considered the god of energy is worshiped during Chhath to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. In Hinduism, sun worship is believed to help cure a variety of disease, and help ensure the longevity and prosperity of family.
On Wednesday, many devotees gathered at the Tapkeshwar temple to perform rituals related to Chhath Puja, said president of BJP Mahila Morcha Kanchan Thakur.
She said, "Earlier people used to come to Tapkeshwar for Chhath Puja, but there were no facilities provided to them at that time so for supporting them so the Purvanchali community has been organising Chhath Puja at Tapkeshwar for the last 10 years so that people can get a clean and convenient place for the rituals.
At the time of Chhath Puja, facilities such as proper lights near the river bank and medical facilities are also provided to the devotees." An assistance counter was also established near the temple for addressing problems of the devotees.
"On the first day of Chhath Puja, women observe fast and eat only one meal a day. On the second day, women observe fast during the daytime which ends in the evening after sunset. The occasion is like a carnival. People from different parts of Dehradun come to Tapkeshwar for performing rituals and they celebrate this festival by dancing and singing," she added.
Ramnath Thakur, a local resident, said, "We have made a separate canal for Chhath Puja along the Rispana River. Earlier, there were many canals in the city but now as all canals are underground we are not getting the right place for the rituals," he added.