Lolark Chhath on 17 September: Kashi's sun-kund festival returns under a rare planetary line-up

One of Varanasi's oldest and most distinctive festivals falls on Thursday, 17 September this year. Lolark Chhath is celebrated at Lolark Kund in Bhadaini, near Assi — a deep, stepped kund linked with the worship of the sun as Lolarka — and it draws couples who come to bathe in its waters and pray for the blessing of a child. By custom, devotees leave behind the clothes they bathed in and make an offering of fruit at the kund. Astrologers are calling this year's date especially auspicious. According to Amar Ujala's report, astrologer Krishna Shastri says Siddhi yoga, Raj yoga and five Mahapurush yogas come together on the day — a combination he describes as returning after seven years. The report gives the best window for the holy dip as 6:31 am to 10:26 am, following the Brahma muhurat (from 3:55 am) and the Vijay muhurat. Pilgrims are expected not only from across Uttar Pradesh but also from Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Delhi, so the lanes around Bhadaini and Assi will be busy from before dawn. If you plan to go, set out early, travel light and keep an eye on local traffic arrangements near the ghats. For many families it is a morning of deep faith — and for visitors, a rare, close-up glimpse of one of Kashi's most intimate living traditions.

Compiled by HelloBanaras from public sources: Amar Ujala