New Delhi [India], Nov. 5 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended his greeting to the nation on Chhath Puja.

Chhath is a pious festival celebrated mostly in Bihar and Nepal's Mithila region.

Devotees perform the puja to thank the sun god for supporting life on earth. This year, Chhath Puja will be celebrated on November 6.

In the Hindu religion, the sun is believed to be the healer of many severe health conditions and ensures longevity, prosperity, progress and well-being. The people celebrate the festival by following a rigorous routine that lasts four days.

The rituals include: fasting, including abstinence from drinking water; holy bathing, offering prayers to the rising and setting sun, and meditating by standing in water for long periods of time. (ANI)