The four-day auspicious festival of Chhath Puja began on November 5. The festival is dedicated to the worship of Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya. Devotees observe arduous fasts from sunrise to sunset during the celebrations. Chhath Puja involves the offering of arghya (a ritual of offering to the sun) on both the evening of the setting sun and the morning of the rising sun. Seasonal fruits and other unique goods are placed in a bamboo basket, known as a soop, and presented to the Sun God as a token of thanks. During Chhath, prasad (holy offerings) is extremely important, representing cleanliness and devotion.
