Kolkata Basks in Sun God's Glow: Chhath Festival Celebrations Illuminate City

Thousands of devotees participated in Chhath festival rituals across Kolkata, offering prayers to the Sun God at various ghats. Traffic restrictions ensured smooth movement, while authorities took steps to protect local ecosystems. The city's air quality remained moderate to satisfactory during the events.

Thousands of devotees gathered across Kolkata to offer prayers to the Sun God during the Chhath festival. The four-day event, highlighted by the 'Sandhya Arghya' and 'Usha Arghya' rituals, concluded with offerings to the rising sun, symbolizing devotion and purity.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation facilitated the ceremonies at 188 ghats, with six temporary sites created to prevent overcrowding. As devotees congregated at locations like Doi Ghat and Babughat, several ghats were temporarily closed to protect ecosystems in compliance with National Green Tribunal directives.

Traffic restrictions were enforced by Kolkata Police to manage the flow, with participation from communities across various states. While the city's air quality index remained acceptable, environmentalists warned of potential violations of green cracker norms during early morning rituals.

(With inputs from agencies.)