NEW DELHI: Thousands of devotees gathered at ghats and makeshift ponds across the capital on Sunday to worship the Sun God as part of Chhath Puja celebrations as the nation celebrates maskless festival.
Devotees sang devotional and folk songs and offered ‘arghya’ to the Sun God while standing in knee deep water at ghats or makeshift ponds. Chhath puja is celebrated on the sixth day after Diwali and is also known as Surya Sashthi as it is dedicated to the Sun God. It is one of the most popular festivals in eastern.
Devotees worshipped the setting sun on Sunday evening. They will also worship the rising sun on Monday morning. It involves offering ‘arghya’ to the Sun god by fasting women in knee-deep water.
The Delhi government has made 1,100 ghats for Chhath Puja across the city this year and has increased the budget 10 times from ₹ 2.5 crore in 2014 to nearly ₹ 25 crore.