Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: President Ram Chandra Poudel performed puja at the Chhath Puja site on the banks of the Bagmati river in front of the Guheshwori Temple in the Pashupati area today.

President Poudel, accompanied by First Lady Sabita Poudel, had reached Guheshwari to attend the Chhath Puja. National Assembly member Bishnu Devi Pudasaini, office-bearers of Pashupati Area Development Trust and Guheshwori Chhath Puja Committee welcomed President Poudel.

On the occasion of the Chhath festival, the President pays homage to the Sun God and the Sixth Goddess at Guheshwori temple every year.

On the occasion of Chhath festival, the Chhath Ghats in other parts of the capital have been decorated to pay homage to the setting sun today. The Chhath festival is celebrated from Kartik Shukla Chaturthi to Saptami every year. Devotees have flocked to see the decorations here. The environment on the bank of the Bagmati River at the Pashupati area has become a fair with the performance of bhajans and devotional music.

This year, Chhath ghats have been constructed on both sides of the Bagmati River from Guheshwori to Gaurighat, on the bank of Nakkhu Khola, Bishnumati and Bagmati rivers in Nakkhu Khola, Thapathali, Kupandole, Sanepa and Ramtirtha.

A clay idol of Chhathi Mata has been erected at these places along with the Chhath Ghat. Today, along with the setting sun, Chhath Mata is worshiped.

This year, more Chhath Ghats have been constructed in Guheshwori than last year. Around 600 Chhath ghats were constructed in the past but over 700 have been reconstructed this year. Anil Singh of the Chhath Puja Committee told RSS that each Chhath Ghat was provided to the devotees by charging Rs 1,500.

The devotees who offer prayers to the setting sun this evening stay awake at the Chhath Puja place until the sun rises on Tuesday morning. The four-day-long Chhath festival ends with worship and offerings to the sun at dawn. It is mentioned in the Surya Purana and other scriptures that the desire of the heart will be fulfilled by observing the Chhath fast.

In the Mahabharata era, five Pandavas, including Draupadi, worshipped the Sun and completed their one-year exile. It is believed that the tradition of celebrating this festival has begun.