Former union minister and MP Subodh Kant Sahay also joined the devotees here, praying for the welfare of the state and the country.
It was a picturesque sight at the river Koel in Palamau when lakhs of people lined up on both sides of the river bank to offer 'arghya' (obeisance) to the Sun.
"Some 500 constables were deployed in Palamau distirct since yesterday to help the devotees," Palamau Superintendent of Police Anup T Mathew said in Medininagar.
Elsewhere, many devotees prepared make-shift altars on roof-tops and offered the prayers.
Several volunteer groups helped devotees at several ghats.
