The four-day festival of Chhath Puja is being celebrated across he country. The festivities started on Sunday with people visiting river banks early in the morning for a ritualistic bath, before preparing a traditional meal of boiled rice and pumpkin.
Chhath is celebrated on the sixth day after Diwali and is dedicated to the Sun. It is one of the most popular festivals in Bihar.
During the festival, women observe a continuous fast for 36 hours. Devotees offer wheat, milk, sugarcane, bananas and coconuts while praying to the Sun.
The ritualistic bath known as the 'Nahai-Khai' will be followed by 'Kharna' on Monday, when 'Kheer' is cooked and distributed among neighbours, friends and relatives.
On Tuesday evening, devotees will offer prayers called 'argya' to the setting Sun and follow this up by offering prayers to the rising sun on Wednesday morning.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has directed district magistrates to give top priority to safety and security of devotees. In Patna, about 200 divers have been deployed to handle any emergency near the river banks and over 5,000 policemen have been deployed to maintain law and order.
Over the years, Chhath has come to be closely identified on the lines of Bihu in Assam, Pongal in Tamil Nadu and Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra.
Delhi and Uttarakhand governments have declared one-day holiday on Monday for the festival.
Devotees carry holy Ganga water for preparations of 'prasad' during the Chhath Puja festival, in Patna, Sunday
Devotees take bath in Ganga river during ‘Kharna Puja’ of Chhath festival in Patna, Monday
Devotees offer prayers after taking a holy dip in the Ganga river during ‘Nahay Khay’ Puja of the Chhath Puja festival, in Patna, Sunday
Traditional artists beat 'dhols' during 'Kharna puja' on the occasion of Chhath festival at a Ganga ghat in Patna, on Monday
Women apply long 'Sindoor' as part of rituals after taking holy dip in Ganga river during ‘Kharna Puja’ of Chhath festival in Patna
Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel with daughter Anar Patel perform Maha Arti on the eve of Chhath festival, at Narmada ghaat in Jabalpur on Monday
Women offer prayers to the Sun god after taking holy dip in Ganga river during ‘Kharna Puja’ of Chhath festival in Patna, Monday
Indian devotees along with Japanese nationals participate in 'Kharna' puja duirng the Chhath festival, in Bodh Gaya, Monday
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