Gaiety marks Chhath Puja celebrations as devotees offer prayers to setting sun

Thousands of devotees from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar offered prayers to the sun god during Chhath Puja at various locations in and around the city. Most of the devotees, who are migrant workers and employed in local factories, celebrated the festival with religious fervour along with their families, friends and fellow workers.

The banks of the Sutlej witnessed a massive gathering of worshippers offering prayers to the setting sun. Devotees, including a large number of women and children, offered fruits and other items and stood in the river water for one to two hours to complete rituals in the traditional manner.

In addition to the Sutlej banks, thousands of devotees also created makeshift ghats — small water enclosures — for offering prayers and eatables in localities such as Giaspura, Sherpur Chowk and Focal Point.

TR Mishra, chairman of the Purvanchal Parishad, said the festival holds immense importance for people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. “Since many migrants have been residing in Ludhiana for decades, rituals are performed here with the same devotion as in our native places. We also receive full support from the administration and police,” he added.

Chitranjan Kumar, a leader of the Bihari community, said special ghats were prepared in Giaspura where lakhs of devotees participated in the rituals. “While many have travelled to their native villages, a large number of migrants chose to celebrate the occasion here in the city,” he said.

Resident extends help to migrants to perform puja

In memory of his 25-year-old son who died by suicide, a local resident, Nirmal Singh, along with his family, organised Chhath Puja for the migrant population on his six-acre land in the Giaspura area — home to a large number of migrants. From constructing “ghats” and arranging priests to help in performing rituals and distributing prasad, the family also hosts a cultural programme as part of the celebrations.

Nirmal Singh said he was moved by the sight of migrant women and elderly parents waiting for hours to perform the puja on the banks of the Sutlej. Determined to make things easier for them, he decided to offer his land for the community to celebrate their biggest festival. The entire expenditure, which can go up to Rs10-12 lakh, is borne by the family in memory of their late son.