The state was buzzing with activities on Sunday as devotees hit markets and shops to buy soop, clay items, baskets and fruits to prepare for nahay-khai, which marks the beginning of the four-day Chhath.

In Ranchi, over 20,000 devotees offered prayers to the rising sun at their homes before eating a spread of rice, channa dal and curry made of kaddu (pumpkin).

Rajendra Singh, a resident of Lake Road, whose wife Renu has been observing Chhath for years, said, “On Monday we will observe kharna during which we will fast for the entire day and eat only roti and kheer in the night. The first arghya will be offered on Tuesday evening and the second arghya is scheduled for Wednesday morning.”

Pankaj Pathak, a resident of Kadru, whose mother observes a daylong fast, said, “Dry wood from mango trees and clay oven are used to cook the nahay-khai food items.”

A large number of people were seen flocking Chhath markets at zilla school, Jaipal Singh Stadium, Harmu and Morabadi.

Soop and other clay items and fruits like sugarcane, coconut, orange and banana have witnessed a slight rise in price.

“Last year I had purchased one soop for Rs 50 so why you are charging Rs 100 this time,” a woman was heard bargaining with a vendor selling bamboo items used to offer Arghya.

While sugarcane is available at Rs 25 per piece as compared to Rs 20 last year, coconut is being sold at Rs 60 as earlier to Rs 55 per pair.

In Jamshedpur, over a lakh Chhath vratis observed nahay-khai on Sunday by taking a dip in the river and cleaning their houses.

Many families were also seen drying wheat under the sun, which will be later used to make thakua, the main prasad of Chhath.

In the steel city vegetables like bottle gourd, coconut, banana and sugarcane also witnessed a rise in price. While bottle gourd is available at Rs 40 per kilo as earlier to Rs 15, coconuts are available for

Rs 30 and banana clusters are being sold at Rs 500-Rs 600. Besides, puja items like clay chulhas and baskets are in equal demand.

New ghat

This year, the JNAC has developed a new river ghat in Baridih, which has been named as Raghubar Park and Ghat. The ghat, which can accommodate around 5,000 people, is likely to be inaugurated by chief minister Raghubar Das on Monday.