Four-day 'Chhath' festival begins in Bihar

Lakhs of devotees today offered prayers after taking holy dip in various rivers across Bihar with the four-day Chhath festival beginning from today with "Nahai Khai" (ritualistic bath and traditional food). Chhath, celebrated five days after Diwali, is dedicated to the Sun God and is one of the most popular festivals of Bihar.In the state capital, lakh of devotees, mainly married couples, thronged the bank of river Ganga early this morning for the ritualistic bath and offering prayers. "We took a bath to purify ourselves before preparing food, known as 'Nahai-Khai' that marks the beginning of Chhath," a woman devotee said.Nahai Khai would be followed by Kharna which would distribution of Kheer Prasad tomorrow and distributed among neighbours, friends and relatives.Tight security arrangements were made on the banks of rivers and ponds across the state for the Nahai Khai, official sources said. Colourful idols of the Sun God riding his chariot with seven horses, a new attraction this year, were sold on the river banks.Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has directed all the District Magistrates to accord top priority to the safety of devotees on the Chhath on November 1 and November 2, sources said.