Thousands in Bihar pray to setting sun on Chhath

Hundreds of thousands of people, mainly women, marked the Chhath festival across Bihar Wednesday by fasting, praying, singing traditional songs and making offerings to the setting sun.

Devotees attired in new clothes sang folk songs as they prayed to the sun god and set lit earthen lamps afloat on rivers, lakes and other water bodies.

The four-day-long Chhath festival began Monday as devotees took a dip in rivers, a tradition known as 'nahai khai'.

It was followed by the ritual of 'kharna' Tuesday, when sweet dishes were prepared.

Married women fast for 36 hours during the festival. Devotees traditionally offer wheat, milk, sugar cane, bananas and coconuts to the sun.

In Patna and other towns, all roads leading to river banks were decorated and cleaned for the devotees to perform 'arghya' or oblations to the sun.

The festival concludes Thursday with devotees worshipping the rising sun. Chhath is celebrated six days after Diwali.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday greeted the nation on Chhath.

"My greetings on the auspicious occasion of Chhath Puja. May the blessings of the sun god brighten our lives with joy, peace and prosperity," he said in a tweet.