My India. Folk festival Chhath Pooja
Observed on Kartik Shukla Shashti, Chhath Pooja traces its origin to prehistoric Vedic times and has now got a special significance as a folk festival.
Though dedicated to the Sun God, devotees also worship his younger sister Chhati Maiya, commonly as Goddess Usha during the four day festival.
It holds immense significance for married women who observe fast, present religious offerings to the Sun God and maintain utmost cleanliness throughout the occasion.
The rituals and traditions of the festival are very hard as the devotees had to fast for 36 hours without a single bite of food or a drop of water.