Patna (Bihar) [India], November 14 (ANI): Bihar Leader of the Opposition and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday criticised the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government over its decision to name the newly constructed six-lane Kachi Dargah-Bidupur Ganga bridge 'Nitish Setu' after former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, alleging that the move signals the end of the veteran leader's active political relevance.

Speaking to ANI, he said, 'It is their government; they can name it whatever they please. They may have named it 'Nitish Setu', but in a way, they have also finished off Nitish Kumar. Usually, such names are given-or statues are erected-in memory of those who are no longer with us. Yet, in this case, the naming has been done while he is still alive. It is as if they are sending a message that, politically, Nitish Kumar is already finished.'

Yadav's remarks come a day after Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced that the 19.76-kilometre-long six-lane corridor connecting Patna and Vaishali districts-scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 21-would be named in honour of the JD(U) chief.

While NDA allies, including JD(U) and BJP leaders, hailed the decision as a tribute to the 'architect of modern Bihar', Yadav characterised the gesture as a symbolic political obituary.

Amid the political sparring, the RJD leader also extended warm greetings to citizens on the occasion of Chhath Puja, noting the festival's growing global footprint.

'Chhath Puja has already begun-starting with 'Nahay-Khay' and 'Kharna'. Tomorrow evening, the 'Sandhya Arghya' will take place, and the festival will conclude the day after tomorrow with the 'Morning Arghya',' Yadav said. 'The people of Bihar celebrate Chhath with great fervour. We extend our best wishes to all the people of Bihar and the entire nation on the occasion of Chhath. You can see that this festival is gaining momentum not only across the country but is now being celebrated even abroad.'

Throughout his tenure as Bihar's longest-serving Chief Minister-spanning over 18 years across multiple terms-Nitish Kumar consistently refrained from naming state government schemes, universities, stadiums, or major infrastructure projects after himself.

Naming the Kachi Dargah-Bidupur six-lane bridge 'Nitish Setu' marks the first time a landmark public infrastructure project in Bihar has been officially named after him, occurring after he stepped down as Chief Minister.

During his governance, major bridges, highways, and welfare programmes in Bihar were almost exclusively named after national freedom fighters, social reformers, and socialist leaders-such as Jayaprakash Narayan (JP Setu/Loknayak Ganga Path), Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Atal Path), Karpoori Thakur, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. Rajendra Prasad-or given descriptive functional titles like Mukhyamantri Balika Cycle Yojana and Saat Nischay.

Amid the political sparring, the RJD leader also extended warm greetings to citizens on the occasion of Chhath Puja, noting the festival's growing global footprint.

'Chhath Puja has already begun-starting with 'Nahay-Khay' and 'Kharna'. Tomorrow evening, the 'Sandhya Arghya' will take place, and the festival will conclude the day after tomorrow with the 'Morning Arghya',' Yadav said. 'The people of Bihar celebrate Chhath with great fervour. We extend our best wishes to all the people of Bihar and the entire nation on the occasion of Chhath. You can see that this festival is gaining momentum not only across the country but is now being celebrated even abroad.'

Meanwhile, Bihar Minister Mithilesh Tiwari described Chhath as a major festival of public faith tied to Bihar's identity, noting that gatherings share prasad and highlighting the tradition of saluting the setting sun alongside the rising sun.

'Chhath is a grand festival of public faith and has now become an identity for Bihar. We have all gathered at the residence of our national president, Nitin Nabin, to partake in the Chhath prasad...whether rich or poor, everyone joins in the spirit of the festival; while the whole world pays homage to the rising sun, we in Bihar also offer our salutations to the setting sun,' Mithilesh Tiwari told ANI.

 Union Minister Chirag Paswan also marked the occasion in Patna, pointing to devotees visiting homes to share Kharna prasad and linking prayers to Chhathi Maiya with aspirations for a developed Bihar.

 'The great festival of Chhath is an occasion where people, filled with devotion and reverence, visit one another-sharing the Kharna prasad and exchanging good wishes, thereby enhancing the grandeur of the celebration for everyone. I believe that each year, we welcome Chhathi Maiya with deep faith, praying together for the creation of a Viksit Bihar, and we are consistently blessed by her,' Paswan told ANI.

Earlier today, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin highlighted the discipline and cultural reach of Chhath Puja on the second day of the festival in Patna, as his wife Deepmala Srivastava prepared Kharna offerings at their home ahead of the main fasting phase.

'The second day of the great Chhath festival is marked by the consumption of Kharna Prasad. The people of Bihar observe this rigorous and demanding festival in a way that gives its rituals a unique significance,' Nabin told ANI.

Meanwhile, Patna's Digha Ghat witnessed a large gathering of devotees performing Kharna rituals on the second day of Chhath Puja.

The four-day Hindu festival of Chhath Puja begins with Nahay Khay, the first ritual, during which devotees take a holy bath and prepare a traditional meal comprising Arwa rice, chana dal and lauki (bottle gourd).

The ritual marks the auspicious beginning of the festival, which is dedicated to the worship of the Sun God. On the second day, known as Kharna, devotees observe a fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food and water.

The fast is broken after sunset following prayers and offerings of traditional prasad, usually comprising jaggery-based kheer and roti. Thereafter, devotees observe a rigorous fast lasting approximately 36 hours without food or water.

On the third day, devotees gather at riverbanks and other water bodies to offer Arghya to the setting sun, a ritual known as Sandhya Arghya. The festival concludes on the fourth day with Usha Arghya, when devotees offer prayers to the rising sun at dawn.

The ritual is followed by Parana, marking the conclusion of the fast. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, Surya, and Chhathi Maiya, the festival symbolises purity, devotion and gratitude, with devotees seeking blessings for the health, prosperity and well-being of their families.

This year, Chhath Puja began with Nahay Khay on November 13.

The festival will continue with Kharna on November 14, followed by Sandhya Arghya on November 15, when devotees will offer prayers to the setting Sun. 

The celebrations will conclude with Usha Arghya on November 16, as devotees offer prayers to the rising Sun. (ANI)