NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended his wishes to citizens for Kharna Puja, a key ritual of the four-day Chhath festival, which honours Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya. PM Modi in a post on X said: “Heartfelt greetings to all on the auspicious occasion of Kharna Puja during the grand festival of Chhath. My respectful salutations to all those observing the fast! On this sacred occasion, symbolising devotion and discipline, there is a tradition of partaking in sattvic prasad along with kheer prepared with jaggery. My wish is that on this ritual, Chhathi Maiya bestows her blessings upon everyone.”
Along with his message, PM Modi shared a song titled “सुख लेके उगिह दुख लेके डूबिह” by Dinesh Lal Yadav, popularly known as Nirahua. Yadav is a prominent Bhojpuri actor, singer, producer, and politician, affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party. He unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Azamgarh against Akhilesh Yadav but later won the 2022 bypolls from the same constituency.Festival preparations gain momentumChhath Puja, beginning Saturday, sees widespread celebrations across Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal. Devotees perform Vedic rituals and offer prayers to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. Central to the festival are traditional folk songs known as Chhath Geet, which carry blessings for family and loved ones. Legendary folk singer Sharda Sinha is remembered for popularising these melodies across generations.Ahead of the festival, PM Modi encouraged citizens to share Chhath songs on social media, saying: “The grand festival of Chhath, dedicated to nature and culture, is approaching. Devotees across Bihar and the entire country are immersed in preparations with full devotion. The songs of Chhathi Maiya enhance the grandeur and divinity of this sacred occasion. I request you to share Chhath Puja songs with me. I will share them with all fellow countrymen over the next few days.“Remembering Sharda Sinha, the Prime Minister added: “When it comes to worshipping Chhathi Maiya, it’s natural to remember Sharda Sinha. She was the daughter-in-law of Begusarai. We honoured her first with the Padma Bhushan and then this year with the Padma Vibhushan. She is no longer with us, but her songs will always be remembered.”While rooted in Bihar, Chhath Puja is also observed in Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Nepali communities, highlighting the festival’s shared cultural heritage across the eastern subcontinent. Cities and towns are preparing riverbanks and public spaces for rituals, reflecting the festival’s enduring social and spiritual significance.
