The government has declared a public holiday on Friday on the occasion of Chhath festival.

The Home Ministry on Thursday issued a notice informing that the government decided to declare a nationwide public holiday on Friday to mark the festival.

The government has declared public holiday today as well to mark the festival.

The festival, which is popular among Hindus mostly from the Tarai region, is celebrated for four days by worshipping the rising and setting sun.

Devotees observe rigorous rituals which include bathing, fasting, standing in water for long periods of time and offering ‘prasad’ (prayer offerings) and Argha to the sun.

They make morning and evening offerings to the sun till the last day which ends with the breaking of the fast and friends visiting the houses of other devotees to receive prasad.