India, Oct. 28 -- As the setting sun glows over the rivers and ponds of North India and Nepal, millions of devotees fold their hands in reverence to the life-giving Sun God. The chants of "Jai Surya Dev" and "ChhathiMaiyaki Jai" echo across the plains - from Gorakhpur and Patna to Janakpur and Birgunj - transforming the entire Indo-Nepal region into a shared landscape of faith and festivity.

The Chhath festival, one of the oldest and most disciplined nature-worship rituals in the world, is more than a religious observance. It is a living bridge of cultural unity between India and Nepal a testimony to their civilizational, spiritual and emotional bond. Chhath Puja, celebrated six days after (Laxmi Puja) Diwali, is dedicated to the worship...