Devotees Take Dip During Chhath Puja, Toxic Foam Covers Yamuna: Pics

The auspicious festival of Chhath Puja began on Tuesday and will span over the next four days with series of meticulously planned rituals and offerings.

Devotees perform rituals after taking a holy dip in the Ganga river during the start of the 4-day Chhath Puja festival, in Patna.

The festival begins with the ritual of Nahay Khay (bathing and feasting) where devotees part take a ritualistic bath and consume a simple meal. The next day, they observe Kharna, involving fasting throughout the day, breaking it only after sunset as an offering to the deities. Image: PTI

The person who observes the fast takes a meal comprising roti and kheer before the family members and friends gather to eat the same meal on a banana leaf together. Image: PTI

The main ritual takes place on the third day when devotees gather at the water bodies including rivers, ponds and something, before sunrise. They offer ‘arghya’ (offering of water) to the rising Sun, chanting prayers. Image: PTI

The festival of Chhath is celebrated in the north Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal. Image: PTI

People who migrate to Delhi in search of work and other purposes also celebrate the festival in the national capital alongside the river Yamuna. Image: PTI

Devotees took a dip in the river Yamuna in Delhi's Kalindi Kunj area which remained covered in a thick layer of toxic foam. Image: PTI