Hyderabad Comes Together for Chhath Puja as Lakhs Offer Prayers

The banks of various lakes and water bodies transformed into vibrant centres of devotion as lakhs of people gathered in Hyderabad for the annual Chhath Puja celebrations. Communities from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and parts of West Bengal who now reside in the city came together to mark the third day of the four-day festival by performing the Sandhya Arghya ritual.

Women observing a 36-hour fast walked down to the ghats carrying traditional bamboo or brass winnowing baskets filled with fruits, thekua sweet, and whole sugarcane stalks with green leaves. Standing waist-deep in water at locations such as Batukamma Ghat on Tank Bund, devotees patiently waited for sunset to offer their evening prayers to Surya, the Sun God, and Ushas, the goddess of dawn, expressing gratitude for sustaining life on earth.

Local markets across the city played an essential role in supporting the festivities, making specialized items like fresh turmeric with leaves and ginger foliage readily available for families preparing their offerings. Residents noted that procuring these traditional items has become much easier in local markets compared to previous years.

Lakhs of devotees gathered at Hyderabad water bodies to offer evening prayers during Chhath Puja.

Grand Hyderabad Chhath Ghat Arrangements

Administrative bodies made 28 locations available for the celebrations across the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Cyberabad Municipal Corporation, and Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation limits. Tank Bund recorded one of the largest congregations, supported by elaborate crowd management arrangements.

Community organizations worked alongside government departments to ensure smooth proceedings. The Bihar Association Hyderabad coordinated the overall celebrations, while the Jan Seva Sangh deployed volunteers across multiple locations to assist citizens and act as a bridge between the public and government authorities.

Following the conclusion of Sunday evening's rituals, devotees prepared for the final phase of the festival. After a night of fasting and prayers, participants planned to return to the ghats before sunrise to perform the Usha Arghya ritual, completing the traditional celebrations.

Why it matters

The grand scale of these celebrations highlights how cultural traditions are maintained and supported across different regions of India, bringing together various community organizations and municipal bodies to accommodate large gatherings in urban centers.

This event significantly impacts the diaspora communities from northern and eastern states residing in Hyderabad, providing them with structured local access, market availability, and municipal support to practice their traditional faith.