Nov 04, Kathmandu- Various lakes, rivers, riverbanks and canals of the district along with Rajbiraj here have been decorated for the Chhath festival from today. After the end of Vijaya Dashami and Dipawali, after the start of Chhath festival, they have been engaged in local cleanliness since morning to make puja ghats on the shores of reservoirs and ponds.

Lalu Rajak, a resident of Rajbiraj Municipality-3, said that they are cleaning the garbage accumulated over the years in the Kaltu Pond, Tirudi and Bhagwati Pond in Rajbiraj, the headquarters, and constructing a ghat to celebrate Chhath. He informed that the cleaned ponds are being decorated with paper, banana leaves and ashok leaves and electric lights.

Work is being done to make and decorate puja ghats even in reservoirs in rural areas. Local Rajendra Mishra said that young people have been cleaning the pond in Hanumannagar market since this morning. Cleaning and ghat decoration work is going on at Koshi barrage in Bhardah.

People from various cities including Birpur, Bhimnagar in Supaul district of India come here every year to celebrate Chhath Parv. After the start of Chhath, Bhojpuri and Maithili songs in the glory of Chhathi Maiya have started to be heard from the radio and sound system in the markets and rural areas.

Consumers have been affected by the increase in the prices of goods used during Chhath. Bananas, coconuts, sugarcane, radish, lemons, apples, oranges, sakhkhar, as well as anglo, koniya and earthenware items made from bamboo lamps, which are used as prasad during Chhath Parva, have more than doubled in price.

Locals complain that no agency has shown interest in the price hike. This festival is celebrated to get rid of poverty and childlessness and to uplift the human race and for health. It is believed that by worshiping the sun, skin diseases will be cured, children and wealth will be gained. Along with religious beliefs, scientific and astrological facts are behind celebrating Chhath Parva, which is associated with health and longevity.