NEW DELHI: Bihar chief minister Samrat Choudhary on Sunday extended greetings to devotees on the occasion of Sandhya Arghya, the third day of Chhath Puja, as authorities put in place elaborate arrangements across the state to ensure safety during the festival.Millions of devotees are expected to offer ‘arghya’ to the setting sun at the Ganga and other rivers, ponds and water bodies across Bihar on Sunday. The four-day festival will conclude on Monday, when worshippers will offer prayers to the rising sun.
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In a post on X, Choudhary wished people on the occasion and prayed for happiness, peace, prosperity and well-being in their lives through the blessings of the setting sun and “Chhathi Maiya”.“Heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all on the auspicious occasion of Sandhya Arghya, the third ritual of the festival of Chhath. Jai Chhathi Maiya”, he wrote.
SDRF , NDRF personnel deployed at ghats
With large gatherings expected at rivers and other water bodies, the Bihar Disaster Management Department has deployed disaster response personnel and local volunteers across the state to handle emergencies and facilitate rescue operations.According to an official statement, quoted by PTI news agency, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel have been deployed at 254 ghats, while National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are stationed at 123 ghats. Local divers and ‘Aapda Mitras’, or disaster response volunteers, have also been deployed at 12,806 ghats.The arrangements include the deployment of divers and disaster response teams at water bodies during the third and fourth days of the festival, when devotees offer prayers to the setting and rising sun while standing in water.