By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Chhath Puja celebrations reached their peak across Bihar and several other parts of the country on Sunday, with thousands of devotees gathering along riverbanks, ponds and other water bodies to offer prayers to the setting Sun as part of the four-day festival dedicated to Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya.
The celebrations will conclude on Monday morning when devotees offer Arghya to the rising Sun, marking the completion of one of the most important religious festivals of Bihar and the eastern Indian states.
In Dehradun, former Uttarakhand chief minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat attended the concluding ceremony of a three-day Chhath Mahaparv organised in the New Basti, Balbir Road and Teg Bahadur Road areas as the chief guest. Former Congress MLA Rajkumar was also present.
Rawat extended greetings to devotees observing the fast and participating in the celebrations. Describing Chhath as a symbol of India’s rich cultural heritage, faith, gratitude towards nature and social unity, he said the festival connected people with traditional customs while promoting love, brotherhood and communal harmony.
He particularly praised ajkumar for organising the festival on a grand scale and making arrangements for devotees for the past 18 years.
Rawat said such events played an important role in preserving cultural traditions and strengthening social bonds.
Uttarakhand Congress vice-president Lalchand Sharma, Mahendra Singh Negi, councillor Nikhil Kumar, Virendra Bisht, Ramnath Thakur, Shashul Mishra, Ram Babu, Rajmangal, Sangam Thakur and several other local residents and devotees were present.
The four-day Chhath festival began on November 13 with Nahay-Khay, followed by Kharna on November 14. Devotees observed a rigorous fast before offering the evening prayers on Sunday. The festival will conclude with Usha Arghya on Monday.
Chhath is primarily celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh, but has also gained a significant following in other parts of the country, including Uttarakhand, with migrant communities keeping the tradition alive.