Rashmirathi, a posh residential society on Kanke Road in Ranchi, barely 2.5km from chief minister Raghubar Das's residence, and a mini India in itself, celebrates Chhath in a unique way.
The residential society, literally translated as chariot of light, has four apartment blocks derived from names of the sun, Prabhakar, Dinkar, Bhaskar and Ravi, with 128 flats. It's why Chhath, the four-day worship of the sun god, is an occasion of revelry for all.
"We are fortunate that some families staying here observe Chhath and almost everyone joins in the festivities," society president AK Singh (63), a retired officer of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL).
"Of our 128 flats, 116 are under possession and this year six families are performing the strict rituals of Chhath. But, what's important is that people of different communities and faiths who stay in the apartments cooperate and encourage the worshippers."
Since the past eight years now, residents of Rashmirathi celebrate Chhath on their lawn with a water fountain. Before Chhath every year, the fountain area is cleaned and filled with fresh water. A makeshift changing room for devotees adjacent to the fountain area is also built so that they can change their clothes immediately after evening and morning arghyas (offering prayers to the sun while standing in water).
"We also light up the building, make seating arrangements for devotees and their family members and other interested residents," Singh added. "We offer a safe, hygienic and pleasant ambience. At ghats near rivers or lakes, there is a lot of rush and jostle."
Celebrating Chhath is tough. Apart from maintaining the sanctity of rituals, devotees need to ensure complete cleanliness while making the thekua prasad.
"But, at Rashmirathi, rituals seem very easy, as if the sun god is helping us in our worship. The housing society makes good arrangements and neighbours are cooperative," said Neelam Singh (50), a resident of Bhaskar block, who has been performing Chhath for past 26 years.
Doing Chhath at Rashmirathi gives one a pious feeling, agreed Shobha Bartiyar (65), a Chhath devotee who stays in Prabhakar block. "It feels nice when neighbours gather around us. You feel like a part of a bigger family."
"This is my 32nd year of performing Chhath," added the senior citizen and family matriarch. "Being the eldest bahu of my family, I inherited the responsibility from my mother-in-law."
Neelam added her father, an HEC official, had built a water tank for her mother to perform Chhath while after her marriage, her husband Santosh Singh, a CCL manager, had also set up a similar structure at their earlier Jawahar Nagar home.
"I have never performed Chhath in the river or lake ghats," said Neelam. "But here, one feels the convenience of a private ghat and the charm of collective prayers with neighbours. It's the best of both worlds, and I love it," she smiled.
Traffic curbs
Entry of heavy vehicles will be restricted in Ranchi city on Wednesday and Thursday for Chhath festivities.
SP (traffic) Manoj Ratan Chothe said trucks and trailers won’t ply within city limits from 8am to 10pm on November 17 and from 3am to 10pm on November 18.
Drop gates will curb all traffic at 14 points including Randhir Verma Chowk on Bariatu Road, Chandni Chowk on Kanke Road, Ram Mandir More on Kanke Road
Share Chhath celebrations of your apartment block with us at ttkhand@abpmail.com
