Cloudy sky fails to dim devotion in Hyderabad as prayers offered to rising sun on Chhath Puja’s last day

Hyderabad woke up to an overcast morning on Tuesday (October 28, 2025) as lakhs of devotees gathered along water bodies to mark Usha Arghya, the fourth and final day of Chhath Puja, offering prayers to the rising sun amid chants and devotional songs.

From as early as 4 a.m., the city’s major Chhath ghats, including those at Hussain Sagar, were filled with devotees hailing from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and parts of West Bengal. The ritual, dedicated to Surya (the Sun God) and his consort Ushas, symbolises gratitude for sustaining life on earth and marks the conclusion of the four-day festival.

Despite the cloudy skies delaying the sunrise, devotees stood patiently in waist-deep water with baskets of fruits and soop (offerings) in hand. The moment the first rays pierced through the clouds, chants of ‘Chhathi Maiya ki Jai’ echoed across the ghats as devotees raised their offerings in unison, creating a spectacle of devotion and colour.

Following the morning ritual, the devotees broke their 36-hour fast by sharing thekua, a traditional sweet made from wheat flour and jaggery, along with fruits and other homemade delicacies, bringing the festival to a close.