Abhishek Rai

Devotees stand in holy water offering prayers to the Sun God during Chhath Puja.

Woman praying in water with flowers during a ritual.

Traditional Chhath Puja ceremony where devotees worship the Sun God with devotion and gratitude.

Devotees offering prayers during Chhath Puja, a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God.

Woman holding offerings in water during chhath puja festival

A woman offers arghya with fruits and diyas during Chhath Puja to worship the rising sun.

Women in colorful sarees perform the sacred Chhath Puja ritual at sunrise.

"Arag Offering to Surya Deva." A devotee stands immersed in the river water, offering a basket (soop) of fruits and sweets (Prasad) to the setting Sun God (Surya). This intimate moment captures the devotion and traditional attire of the Chhath Puja festival in India.

"The Sacred Vigil of Chhath Puja." Two women perform the holy rituals of Chhath Puja, standing deep in the water at sunrise or sunset. Their colorful, traditional attire and the floating offerings highlight the deep spiritual significance of this major festival dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya.

A pile of freshly baked peanut butter cookies

Thekua: The essential Prasad (offering) of Chhath Puja. These crunchy wheat biscuits, made with jaggery or sugar, are a symbol of the festival's sweet devotion to the Sun God Surya

A devoted woman performs the Kharna ritual of Chhath Puja with thekua, kheer, and bananas, as diyas glow beside the sacred fire in devotion to the Sun God.

Kharna: The second, most sacred day of Chhath Puja. Devotees break their full-day fast after sunset with a pure meal of jaggery kheer and chapati, praying to Surya Dev (Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya.