Hindu devotees mark Cchat Puja festival in Nepal

The Chhath Festival, also known as Surya Pooja, or worship of the sun, is observed in parts of India and Nepal and sees devotees pay homage to the sun and water deities

A devotee offers a prayer to the setting sun during the "Chhat" festival along the bank of Bagmati River in Lalitpur, Nepal.

Devotees from Nepal and India throng the ancient city of Janakpur to worship at the famous Janaki Temple and take ritual baths in the rivers and ponds. It is a three-day festival with the first day spent in cleaning the kitchen and preparing for the fast.

On the second day, devotees fast from the morning and spend the day preparing their offerings of fruits, sweets and nuts etc.

Devotees offer prayers to the setting sun during the "Chhat" festival along the bank of Bagmati River in Lalitpur, Nepal.

The aim of this festival, say devotees, is to achieve purity both physical and spiritual.

Devotees offer prayers to the setting sun during the "Chhat" festival on a makeshift pond in Lalitpur, Nepal.

A devotee offers a prayer to the setting sun during the "Chhat" festival along the bank of Bagmati River in Lalitpur, Nepal.

Devotees offer prayers to the setting sun during the "Chhat" festival along the bank of Bagmati River in Lalitpur, Nepal.

A devotee offers a prayer to the setting sun during the "Chhat" festival along the bank of Bagmati River in Lalitpur, Nepal.

Devotees offer prayers to the setting sun during the "Chhat" festival along the bank of Bagmati River in Lalitpur, Nepal.

Devotees offer prayers to the setting sun during the "Chhat" festival along the bank of Bagmati River in Lalitpur, Nepal.