AMN /
Chhath festival is being celebrated today with religious fervour and gaiety in Bihar and other parts of the country.
Large number of devotees and people offered prayers to the setting sun at the banks of rivers and other water bodies this evening.
The Chhath ghats on the banks of rivers and other water bodies have been decorated with beautiful lighting across the state. Sacred folk songs of the festival could be heard at every nook and corner.
Large number of people thronged to Ghats to offer prayer to god of nature the Sun. Many prisoners are also observing fast of Chhath in jails across the state. With offer of oblation to rising sun the four days festival would end tomorrow.
In Delhi Thousands of devotees thronged to Soor Ghat, Geeta Ghat near ISBT, Purvi Ghat, Hathi Ghat, Kudesiya Ghat, Shyam Ghat, Yamuna Ghat and Kalindi Kunj Ghat, among others, to take part in the Chhath ceremonies.
Delhi government and municipal corporations had worked in tandem to ready the river banks including making safety arrangements for people thronging the ghats.
Makeshift pandals, sandbanks, floodlights and barricades were put up across the ghats’ premises.
Meanwhile, traffic congestion was reported in several parts of Delhi including like ITO, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, outer ring road, Dabri Marg in South East Delhi, among others.
Delhi Police also used helicopter to monitor the traffic situation around ghats.
The age-old tradition, which pays obeisance to the sun god, is observed mainly by people from Bihar and eastern UP.
The national capital has a sizeable population of people hailing from the two states.
The puja starts with the ritual of ‘Nahai-Khai’, in which devotees prepare traditional food after bathing.