Chhath Puja celebrations underway pan India

A Chhath devotee is called a 'vrati' - one who performs the Chhath prayers and follows the strict rituals.

During the festival, married women observe a fast for 36 hours and devotees traditionally offer wheat, milk, sugarcane, bananas and coconuts to the Sun God.

Colourful idols of the Sun God riding his chariot with seven horses, a new attraction this year, are being sold on the river banks.

The district administration, along with dozens of voluntary organisations, is busy making arrangements to manage the crowds and keep the area around the river banks clean.