Celebrating Chhath Puja, one of the most eco-friendly festivals in India

Chhath is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival dedicated to the Sun and his wife Usha in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes. (Photo: PTI)

An artiste making sweet-pots for the forthcoming Chhath Puja festival, at a market in Koolkata on Monday. The Jeet, considered as the god of energy and of the life-force, is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. (Photo: PTI)

Woman devotees put vermillion during rituals ahead of Chhath Puja in Patna. The rituals include holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water (Barta), standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prashad (prayer offerings) and arghya to the setting and rising sun. (Photo: PTI)

Passengers hang from the coaches of an over crowded train while traveling home for the Chhath Puja festival near Parsa Bazar railway station in Patna. (Photo: PTI)

Devotees worshipping during the 'Nahaye Khaye' on the occassion of the Chhath Puja festival in Patna on Tuesday. (Photo: PTI)

Women buying "Chhath Puja" items ahead of the festival. Environmentalists claim that Chhath is the most eco-friendly Hindu festival. (Photo: PTI)

Devotees purchasing bamboo items ahead of the Chhath Puja featival in Ranchi on Tuesday. The word chhath means sixth in Nepali, Maithili and Bhojpuri languages and the festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the month Kārtika of the Hindu lunar Bikram Sambat calendar. (Photo: PTI)

A hand-rickshaw puller ferries an elderly woman carrying bunches of bananas, ahead of Chhath puja festival, in Kolkata. The rituals of the festival are rigorous and are observed over a period of four days. (Photo: PTI)

A banana vendor waits for customers at Sealdah Market ahead of Chhat Festival in Kolkata. (Photo:PTI)