Varanasi/Patna /Guwahati, Oct 24 (ANI): The Chhath Puja, a festival to thank the Sun God for bestowing the bounties of life on the earth and prosperity was celebrated on Saturday with religious fervors and gaiety.

Standing in knee-deep water on the banks of rivers, ponds and water reservoirs, devotees paid oblations to the setting sun this evening and rising sun on Sunday morning.

The worshippers also keep fasting for 36 hours.

In Varanasi, lakhs of devotees offered Puja to Sun God after taking holy dip in the River Ganga for Kharna Puja.

Devotees offered prayers at Dashaswamedh, Rajendra Prasad, Sheetala, Kedar and Assi Ghats.

In Patna the atmosphere was reverberating with devotional folk songs. Roads and Ghats have been tastefully decorated with flowers and lights of different colors.

The Bihar government has made elaborate security arrangements to ensure a trouble free congregation.

Lakhs of devotees have thronged at Sun temple in Deo of Aurangabad , Bargao of Nalanda and Pandarak of Patna Districts on the occasion.

It is believed that the wishes of those observing Chhath festival with serenity and purity are fulfilled.

In Guwahati the security has been beefed up and a strict vigil is being maintained in the river-side puja places to stop any anti-social activities.

Additional forces have been placed on security duty in the vulnerable and Hindi-speaking people dominated areas.

The Guwahati City police have made elaborate arrangements to control traffic movement on the Brahmaputra River side roads in view of the Chhath Puja. (ANI)