Today’s festivals

Second day of Chhath Puja — all-day Nirjala (waterless) fast. At sunset devotees make kheer (rice pudding) with jaggery as prasad, offer it to the Sun, then eat briefly. The gruelling 36-hour waterless fast to Usha Arghya then begins.

• All-day Nirjala fast
• Evening kheer-banana prasad
• Sunset puja
• 36-hour waterless fast begins

Third and principal day of Chhath Puja — at sunset, devotees (still fasting) stand waist-deep in a river and offer the first Arghya (water oblation) to the setting Sun. The most attended gathering of the festival; bamboo baskets of fruit, sugarcane and Thekua are offered.

• Sunset Arghya at river
• Bamboo baskets of fruit, sugarcane, coconut
• Thekua (traditional sweet)
• Diyas floated on river

Six-day fast culminating in Lord Murugan's victory over demon Soorapadman (Soorasamharam)

• 6-day fast
• Kavadi
• Vel worship
• Soorasamharam re-enactment