In Yamunanagar, Chhath Mahaparva has transformed from a regional festival into one of the city’s most visually stunning and culturally significant events. Reflecting the city’s diverse industrial workforce, the festival brings together thousands of devotees (Vratis) who gather along the banks of the Western Yamuna Canal to worship the Sun God, Surya, and Chhathi Maiya.
The Rituals of Faith
The four-day festival is an intense journey of devotion, characterized by strict fasting and purity:
- Nahay-Khay & Kharna: The initial days focus on spiritual cleansing and the preparation of traditional offerings like Thekua (a signature wheat-based dessert) and seasonal fruits.
- Sandhya Arghya: On the third evening, the canal banks at Badhi Majra Bridge and Tirtha Nagar Ghat turn into a sea of gold. Thousands of women stand waist-deep in the cold water, holding decorated bamboo baskets (Soop) to offer prayers to the setting sun.
- Usha Arghya: The festival concludes at dawn on the fourth day with offerings to the rising sun, symbolizing the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
Yamunanagar’s Unique Celebration
- The Canal Transformation: The Municipal Corporation of Yamunanagar-Jagadhri (MCYJ) initiates a massive cleanup drive weeks in advance. The canal water level is specifically regulated to ensure safety for the devotees.
- Communal Harmony: Local social organizations and industrial groups set up stalls offering milk, tea, and fruits to the pilgrims. The atmosphere is filled with traditional folk songs (Sharda Sinha’s melodies), echoing through the industrial corridors of the city.
- Decorative Ghats: For the 2026 celebrations, the administration has installed permanent lighting and safety railings at major ghats, acknowledging the festival’s status as a major public event.