KATHMANDU: Today marks the second day of the Chhath festival, with devotees fasting since the morning and spending the day preparing offerings of fruits, nuts, and sweets.
This festival, recognized as a cultural symbol of the Tarai/Madhes region, commenced on Tuesday.
On this second day, devotees gather at the banks of rivers and ponds to await the setting sun.
They light lamps and sing hymns while praying and making offerings to the fading sun.
The festive atmosphere is evident in various locations, including Ranipokhari, Gaurighat, and Kupondole in the Kathmandu Valley.
The Chhath festival is dedicated to the Sun God, with offerings made to both the rising and setting sun.
It is observed for four days, from Kartik Shukla Chaturthi to Kartik Shukla Saptami, according to the lunar calendar, typically falling between October and November in the Gregorian calendar.
The Sun, regarded as the God of energy and life force, is worshipped during Chhath to promote well-being, prosperity, and progress.
Rituals include taking holy baths, fasting, and long periods of worship, along with offering prasad and argha (curd) to the rising and setting sun.
Chhath is a festival characterized by bathing and worship, following a period of abstinence and segregation for the worshippers from their households for four days.
