Chhath Puja

Chhathi Maiya — the sixth form of Devi, sister of Surya — is invoked alongside the Sun god for the welfare of the family. The four-day vrat is mentioned in the Mahabharata: Draupadi observed it; Karna, son of Surya, offered arghya knee-deep in water every morning.

The only major Hindu festival where the setting sun is worshipped before the rising sun — honouring endings before beginnings. The most physically demanding vrat in the calendar.