KATHMANDU: President Ram Chandra Poudel and Vice President Ramsahaya Prasad Yadav have offered prayers to Surya Dev, the sun god, and Chhathi Mata as part of the Chhath celebrations in Kathmandu on Sunday evening.
President Poudel reached Gaurighat on the banks of Bagmati River for Chhati festivities, while Vice President Yadav participated in Chhath festivities at Kamalpokhari. Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Mayor Balen Shah and Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol also worshiped the Sun god and Chhathi Mata at Kamalpokhari.
Chhath, an important festival of Hindu devotees living in the southern plains of the country, is being celebrated at 13 locations in Kathmandu Valley this year. The festival is celebrated for four days, starting from the fourth day of the waxing moon to the seventh day in the month of Kartik, as per the lunar calendar.
The main festivities began on Sunday evening with devotees making offerings to the setting sun by dipping themselves in water bodies like rivers and ponds. The festival will conclude after the devotees worship the rising sun with prayers and offerings.