Chhath Puja, the biggest festival of the poorvanchali is being celebrated on Saturday with traditional enthusiasm and fervour as the devotees go to a nearby river or pond to offer prayers to the setting sun in the evening. The festival will culminate at Sunday dawn, after devotees offer Arghya to the rising Sun on the banks of rivers. Chhath denotes the number six and thus the 4-day event begins on the sixth day of Kartik (October-November). A festival of truth, non-violence, forgiveness and compassion, it is dedicated to Lord Surya (the Sun God), Agni (the Fire God) and Kartikeya. Chhath is the only time when the setting sun as opposed to its rising is celebrated for its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death. People fast for the whole day and in the evening they offer Chhath Sandhya Arghya to the setting sun by standing in knee-deep water. A million-lit lamps with thousands hands offering Arghya makes it a delightful sight.
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