In Pics: Chhath celebration in Gaurighat

KATHMANDU: The main day of Chhath was observed by offering arghya to the setting sun (sunset) on Sunday.

The Chhath festival honors the Sun God and an ancient Vedic Goddess in exchange for good health, well-being, and prosperity.

This festival began on Friday and celebrated from Kartik Shukla Chaturthi to Saptami.

Chhath ghats were built and decorated this year on the right and left banks of the Bagmati River from Guhyeshwori to Gaurighat, as well as in Kamal Pokhari, Thapathali, Kupandol, Nakkhu Khola at various locations, and on the Bishnumati and Bagmati river banks in the capital.

These locations, like the Chhath ghat, have a clay statue of Chhathi Maiya. Chhathi Maiya is now worshiped alongside the setting sun (sunset).

Vartalu (people who fast) will stay awake at the Chhath puja site until the sun rises on Monday morning, after praying to the sunset this evening.

The four-day Chhath festival culminates in sunrise prayers to the sun.

Before this President Bhandari visited the Kathmandu districts of Guheshwori-Gaurighat and Kamal Pokhari, which had been decorated for Chhath.

Here are a few photos of devotees praying in Gaurighat, Kathmandu:

-Saroj Basnet/MK