Page 21 - Mann Ki Baat - English

harvest, peace, and prosperity,
while the evening arghya
acknowledges the benevolence
of the Sun God.
The rituals are simple
and direct, performed without
priestly intervention. Offerings
are presented in a soopi or
winnow, and the prayers are
offered directly to the setting
and rising sun. The festival
begins with the meticulous
cleaning of river ghats and
smaller water bodies, often
undertaken by the government
and communities. This emphasis
on purity underscores the
festival’s intrinsic eco-friendly
nature. All items used in the
rituals, from the offerings to the
cooking utensils, are sourced
locally and naturally. Offerings
typically include sweets, rice
porridge, Thekua (a hard wheat-
based cake sweetened with
jaggery), rice laddoos, fruits

21 21