Nepal’s Southern Plains Prepare for Chhath Festival-Worship of the Sun

With the conclusion of the Tihar festival, people across Nepal’s southern plains have begun vibrant preparations for Chhath, one of the most important festivals in the Terai-Madhes region. In Jaleshwor Municipality of Mahottari District, preparations are in full swing. According to cultural expert Dhrub Ray, the festival began with the traditional cleaning of rivers, ponds, streams, and brooks, an essential step before the rituals begin.

Chhath is dedicated to the worship of the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Mata, symbolizing gratitude for life and nature. Devotees offer prayers from water bodies, making cleanliness and accessibility crucial. To facilitate worshippers, roads are being repaired and public spaces beautified, said Bijay Kumar Singh, Chairperson of Jaleshwor Municipality–8.

At Pathak Pokhari in Bajarahi village, makeshift bamboo and wooden temples are being built in the middle of the pond for the ritual offerings to the Sun. “The structures are prepared every year as a sacred space for devotees to perform prayers and rituals,” said Keshav Jha, coordinator of the local Chhath Puja Committee.

Other popular sites, including Barun Sarobar and rivers in Matihani, Gaushala, Aurahi, Alawa, and Loharpatti, are also drawing large numbers of devotees preparing for the festival. The four-day Chhath festival, observed mainly in Nepal’s Terai region and neighboring parts of India, is marked by fasting, offering prayers to the setting and rising sun, and seeking blessings for prosperity, health and well-being.