TURA: The frangrance of burning incense, the colorful illumination and the sound of music rant the air at Babupara immersion ghat in Tura as thousands of devotees offered prayers to the sun god on the occasion of the Chhath Puja on Sunday evening.
Devotees, old and young, jostled for space at the ghat which was choc-a-bloc with people colorfully decked up carrying bamboo baskets laden with fruits and other food items to give as offering to the sun god.
Many of the devotees, including women folk, took a dip in the icy cold waters of the Babupara stream as they offered prayers to the setting sun.
Chhath puja is a four day event which begins with fasting, rituals of worship, abstinence and culminates with the offering of worship on the banks of a river or stream at two intervals- during sunset and sunrise the next morning.
Devotees regard the sun as the god of energy and the life force.
It is celebrated to promote the well being and prosperity of the devotee and his family.
Some devotees undertake penance for past mistakes, others seek blessings from the giver of life. Many more offer thanksgiving for blessings received.
“It is a wonderful feeling to witness and participate in the Chhath Puja celebrations each year. The number of people celebrating Chhath Puja is increasing with each passing year but our concern is the lack of space to accomodate everyone.,” said a worried Prem Prakash Tewari, president of the Tura Chhath Puja Association.
This is one unique festival because there is no priest (pandit) required to perform the puja and devotees follow a strict regimen of rituals which includes sleeping on the floor with a single piece of cover.
“This is a festival that has stood the test of time. Here in Tura we have been celebrating Chhath Puja for generations and each year has become unique,” recalled Kali Prasad Gupta, an old timer and the vice president of the celebration committee.
