Devotees worship Sun god on Chhath Puja day

ALLAHABAD/PATNA - Scores of devotees gathered at the riverbanks on Saturday morning to worship the Sun god on the occasion of Chhath Puja.

Women performed religious rituals and presented offerings to the Sun God while standing in knee-deep water.

“We presented offerings, comprising water, milk and flowers, to the Sun God and asked him to bless our children and family. It was a three-day fast which concluded today,” said Lalita, a devotee.

According to prevalent custom, on the first day, devotees, mostly women, take a dip in the river and start fasting that continues till the last offering is made on the fourth day.

On the second day, the rituals are performed at home, while over the next two days devotees take a dip in the rivers and offer special prayers to the Sun God seeking welfare and prosperity of their families.

Meanwhile in Patna, devotees flocked to riverbanks since early morning.

Devotees danced to the tunes of the devotional hymns and songs and offered fruits and flowers to the Sun God and sought his blessings.

“It is an extremely holy festival. Chhath Puja is celebrated with fervour and has a lot of significance in the religion, hence we observe and celebrate it,” said Maya Devi, a devotee.

The festival is also popular among other metropolitan cities such as Kolkata, Siliguri, Pune and Mumbai. (ANI)