Watch: Merchant Navy captain celebrates Chhath Puja aboard ship

As the sun began to set over the lakes and water bodies of Hyderabad on Sunday evening, the area transformed into a hub of devotion for millions of people. Devotees from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal, who now reside in the city, gathered to offer prayers to the setting sun during the third day of Chhath Puja, a four-day festival.

Chhath Puja is more than just a celebration for these communities; it is an expression of gratitude for sustaining life on earth, honoring the Sun God Surya and the goddess of dawn, Ushas. Preparations for the festival commenced well in advance, with families visiting markets to gather special fruits, vegetables, and other offerings, including whole sugarcane stalks, turmeric, ginger, and traditional sweet thekua.

Shatrughan Ram, a local resident, noted that these items are now easily accessible in nearby markets. Women observing the 36-hour fast made their way to the ghats, carrying bamboo or brass winnowing baskets filled with fruits, sugarcane, thekua, and other offerings, as they stood in the water and waited for the sun to dip below the horizon.

This year, 28 locations across the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Cyberabad Municipal Corporation, and Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation limits were designated for the celebrations, with Tank Bund hosting one of the largest gatherings. The preparations were a collaborative effort between community organizations and government departments.

The Bihar Association Hyderabad, under the leadership of Hareram Singh, coordinated the celebrations, while the Jan Seva Sangh, headed by former Prisons Director General V.K. Singh, deployed volunteers to assist devotees. As the last rays of the sun disappeared and the evening rituals concluded, the festival continued into the night, followed by a day and night of fasting and prayers before the concluding Usha Arghya ritual on Monday, when prayers would be offered to the rising sun.