Braving sub-zero temperature, Indian-Americans celebrate Chhath Puja in US
Hundreds of Indian-Americans, mainly those tracing their roots from Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern UP celebrated Chhath Puja in the US yesterday. In the Maryland suburb of Washington DC, Chhath Puja was held on the banks of the historic Potomac River, which was attended by some 400 people, while a large number of them gathered on a lakeside at Monroe Township's Thompson Park (New Jersey).
'This year it was largest ever gathering for Chhath Puja'
It was a picturesque scene at both the places, as onlookers compared the ceremony site to their memories of India's Chhath Puja. "This year it was the largest ever gathering for Chhath Puja," said prominent Indian-American Kripa Singh from Virginia, who started celebrating Chhath Puja, which entails worship of the Sun God, about a decade ago on the banks of the Potomac River.
India's Deputy Ambassador to US attended the puja as well
India's Deputy Ambassador to the US, Santosh Jha, who comes from Bihar, also attended the Chhath Puja yesterday. Hundreds of families having Bihari-Jharkhand origin gathered to support the ladies performing the ceremony in New Jersey. People from Vancouver and Michigan attended the Chhath Puja in New Jersey. "It reminds me of attending Chhath in Patna," said Deputy Consul General New York, Shatrughan Sinha.
