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Patna: Large numbers of people thronged the banks of the Ganga for the annual festival of "Chhat Puja" or worship of sun god, which came to an end in Bihar on Friday. The festival is especially significant for married women who observe a two-day fast and offer prayers standing waist-deep in water for at least two hours and offer fruits and flowers to Surya, the Sun God. People go to bathing ghats on river banks and pay obeisance to both the rising and the setting sun during the festival which is celebrated on the sixth and seventh days from Diwali. Traditional music is also an integral part of this festival. Preparations for this festival start a month ahead. The large numbers of devouts created a nightmare for the local officials who regulated movement of devouts along the river bank as a precautionary step to avoid any untoward incident. In 1995, at least 78 people had died when one such boat capsized during the festival.
-ANI |
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