Varanasi, Nov. 13 -- As the four-day Chhath Puja festival began with 'Nahay-Khay' on Friday, preparations gathered pace along riverbanks and at ghats across Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, with devotees marking out spaces for their rituals, administrative officials overseeing arrangements, and a familiar debate over access to prime spots bringing a different dimension to the celebrations.

From the banks of the Varuna River in Varanasi to the Hindon Chhath Ghat in Ghaziabad and homes in Patna, the preparations reflected the deep-rooted faith associated with the festival.

At Shastri Ghat along the Varuna River in Varanasi, devotees had begun constructing their 'vedis' (designated altars) ahead of the main rituals.

Speaking about the preparation...