Gorakhpur, Oct 28 (ANI): Thousands of Hindu devotees in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh thronged markets to buy the traditional items required to celebrate the Sun God festival, 'Chhath'. A devotee Bimla Mishra said that the festival is very important and is considered extremely auspicious. The Chhath, celebrated on the sixth and seventh day after Diwali, is significant for married women who observe a three-day fast and standing in waist-deep river water, present religious offerings to the Sun God. According to tradition, on the first day, devotees, mostly women, take a dip in the river and begin fasting. Another devotee, Manju Tripathi, said that devotees fast for the fulfillment of their wishes. On the second day, rituals are performed at home. Chhath is considered an extremely auspicious festival by the people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The festival has also gained popularity in metropolitan cities like Kolkata, Pune and Mumbai, too, where there are large numbers of migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
