Four‑day Chhath festival kicks off in Bihar with Nahay Khay rituals

Bihar witnessed the opening of the four‑day Chhath festival on Thursday, with the traditional Nahay Khay ritual marking the first day. Devotees gathered at riverbanks and ghats, performed a ceremonial bath, and prepared simple vegetarian meals that were offered to the setting sun. The ritual, which combines purification (nahay) and communal sharing of food (khay), is considered essential before the main worship on the subsequent days. Across the state, families set up makeshift altars, and local authorities deployed additional security and sanitation measures to manage the crowds. The commencement of Chhath is expected to draw millions of participants over the next three days, culminating in the evening offerings at sunrise and sunset.