Birgunj, Nov 7: The Chhath festival has been celebrated with much fanfare and by offering curd to the setting sun here Thursday. The pond, reservoirs and riverbanks are crowded with devotees.

Birgunj Metropolitan City (BMC) beautifully decorated the banks of rivers and ponds. 

The male folks of family could be seen heading to the riverbanks with baskets full of puja assortments.

The major day of the Chhath is today- Kartik shukla shasthi as per lunar calendar, while it is concluded by offering curd to the rising Sun next day.

The Sun God is worshipped by offering plants and fruits like ginger, banana, tuber, turmeric, coconut, apple, orange and thekuwa, a delicacy as prasad. Similarly, while offering curd, betel nut, clove, black cardamom are also used.

The devout take holy dip in the pond and river and offer the curd.

Former secretary of Narayani Literary Foundation, Manoj Upadhyay, said the festival of public faith, was observed with much devotion in Birgunj. "The devotee especially the women folks celebrate the Chhath festival by observing fasting and wishing peace and prosperity of the family and descendents," he said, adding that Chhath is related to nature. 

Another Dilip Saha Kanu, who is also the chair of Ghadiarba Chhath puja management committee, shared, "We've been preserving ancient art and culture by managing festival celebration for 22 years."

According to him, some 150 thousand people visit the decorated river banks for the celebration. The festival is for peace, prosperity and fraternity, he added.
----