SaralnamaFor 30 years, Muslim women in Bihar have been making clay stoves for the Hindu Chhath festival. Kuresha Khatun from Patna explains that these stoves, priced between ₹170 and ₹300, are essential for preparing prasad. The women maintain strict purity while crafting the stoves, avoiding meat and fish for 3 days prior and working barefoot. The tradition, passed down through generations, involves mixing mud with wheat husk for durability. Despite being Muslims, these women respect Chhath's significance and view their work as both a service and a source of income. The festival, celebrated from 25 to, includes rituals like Nahay Khay and offering arghya to the setting and rising sun. (Updated 24 Oct 2025, 07:39 IST; source: link)
Key Points
- For 30 years, Muslim women in Bihar have been making clay stoves for the Hindu Chhath festival
- Kuresha Khatun from Patna explains that these stoves, priced between ₹170 and ₹300, are essential for preparing prasad
- The women maintain strict purity while crafting the stoves, avoiding meat and fish for 3 days prior and working barefoot