KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 7

The Chhath festival was celebrated with great fanfare on Thursday, marked by offerings of curd to the setting sun. The banks of ponds, reservoirs, and rivers were crowded with devotees.

Birgunj Metropolitan City (BMC) beautifully decorated the riverbanks and ponds for the occasion.

Men from families were seen heading to the riverbanks with baskets full of puja offerings.

The main day of Chhath is today-Kartik Shukla Shasthi, according to the lunar calendar-while the festival concludes with offerings of curd to the rising sun the following day.

Devotees worship the Sun God by offering plants and fruits such as ginger, banana, tubers, turmeric, coconut, apple, orange, and thekuwa, a traditional sweet as prasad. In addition, while offering curd, betel nut, clove, and black cardamom are also used.

Devotees take a holy dip in the pond or river before offering the curd.

Manoj Upadhyay, former secretary of the Narayani Literary Foundation, explained that this festival of public faith is observed with great devotion in Birgunj. 'Devotees, especially women, celebrate Chhath by fasting and praying for the peace and prosperity of their families and descendants,' he said, adding that Chhath is intrinsically linked to nature.

Dilip Saha Kanu, chair of the Ghadiarba Chhath Puja Management Committee, shared, 'We have been preserving ancient traditions and culture by organizing the festival for 22 years.'

According to Kanu, around 150,000 people visit the decorated riverbanks to participate in the celebration. The festival symbolizes peace, prosperity, and unity, he added.