Prayers to the sun: Chhath Puja on the banks of Indian rivers

Chhath is an ancient Hindu festival native to eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. A woman offers prayers on the occasion of Chhath Puja on the bank of Hooghly river in Kolkata, India on November 6, 2016. (Subhankar Chakraborty/HT PHOTO)

Published on: Nov 07, 2016 5:42 PM IST

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Chhath is an ancient Hindu festival native to eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. A woman offers prayers on the occasion of Chhath Puja on the bank of Hooghly river in Kolkata, India on November 6, 2016. (Subhankar Chakraborty/HT PHOTO)

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The Puja is dedicated to the Sun and his wife Usha in order to thank them. Devotees throng the Dashasahwamedh ghat in Varanasi on the occasion of Chhath Puja. (Adarsh Gupta / HT PHOTO)

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Devotees performing rituals to pay reverence to Lord Surya, the sun god, during Chhath Puja at upper lake in Bhopal. (Mujeeb Faruqui/HT PHOTO)

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The rituals of the festival are observed over a period of four days. Devotees take a ritual bath during Chhath Puja at upper lake in Bhopal. (Mujeeb Faruqui/HT PHOTO)

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A lady taking a holy dip to pay reverence to Lord Surya . (Mujeeb Faruqui/HT PHOTO)

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Rituals also include fasting, abstaining from drinking water and offering prashad or prayer offerings to the setting and rising sun. Devotees in Sheetla Mata Pond in Gurgaon. (Parveen Kumar / HT PHOTO)

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The Sun is believed to be the healer of many severe health conditions and is prayed to for prosperity, well-being, good health and happiness. (Subhankar Chakraborty/HT PHOTO)

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A devotee is marked with vermillion during Chhath celebrations at the banks of Hooghly. (Subhankar Chakraborty/HT PHOTO)

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This year, there has been a surge in the release of Chhath song records. The musicians range from the established to the up-and-coming. (Subhankar Chakraborty/HT PHOTO)

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Women offering prayers on the occasion of Chhath Puja at the Hooghly ghat. (Subhankar Chakraborty/HT PHOTO)

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North Indians from all over the city come together to celebrate Chath Puja in Mumbai, on November 6, 2016. (Vidya Subramanian/HT PHOTO)