Colorful images from the Chhat festivities in India last week. Hindu devotees worship the sun god and fast all day for the betterment of their family and society during the festival. Chhat is celebrated twice a year, once in summer (May-July), called the Chaiti Chhat, and once during October-November, six days after Deepawali, called the Kartik Chhat. The first day of Chhat begins with a ritual bathing (preferably in the Ganges River), followed by a period of abstinence and segregation of the worshipper from the main household for four days. (12 images)
A woman offers prayers on Chhat festival, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, celebrated largely in northern India, in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, Nov. 4. Security was tightened in the city fearing backlash from the Maharashtra Reconstruction Party who have been targeting migrant workers in the country's financial and entertainment capital. AP / Rajanish Kakade
Hindu devotees offer prayers on the occasion of the festival of Chhat, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, in Hyderabad, India on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
AP / Mahesh Kumar A.
Hindu devotees offer prayers on the banks of the River Ganges on the occasion of the festival of Chhat, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, in Calcutta, India on Tuesday, Nov. 4. In background is the Howrah Bridge, a landmark of Calcutta. AP / Bikas Das
A Hindu devotee crawls towards a temple, as a ritualistic offering, on the occasion of the festival of Chhat, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, in Amritsar, India on Tuesday, Nov. 4. AP / Altaf Qadri
Hindu women offer prayers on the occasion of the festival of Chhat, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, in the River Ganges in Patna, India, on Tuesday, Nov. 4. AP / Aftab Alam Siddiqui
Hindu devotees offer prayers on the banks on River Ganges on the occasion of the festival of Chhat, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, in Calcutta, India on Tuesday, Nov. 4. AP / Bikas Das
Hindu devotees offer prayers on the occasion of the festival of Chhat, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, in Amritsar, India, on Tuesday, Nov. 4. AP / Altaf Qadri
Hindu devotees offer prayers on the occasion of the festival of Chhat, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, as they stand in the River Ganges in Allahabad, India on Tuesday, Nov. 4. AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh
Hindu women offers prayers on the occasion of the festival of Chhat, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday, Nov. 4. AP / Saurabh Das
Hindu devotees crowd on the banks of the River Ganges as they prepare for their rituals on the occasion of the festival of Chhat, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, in Calcutta, India, Tuesday, Nov. 4. AP / Bikas Das
A Hindu couple performs rituals on the banks of the River Ganges on the occasion of the festival of Chhat, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, in Calcutta, India on Tuesday, Nov. 4. AP / Bikas Das
Hindu devotees perform rituals on the banks on River Ganges on the occasion of the festival of Chhat, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, in Calcutta, India, on Tuesday, Nov. 4. AP / Bikas Das
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