KATHMANDU, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- People from the ethnic Madhesi community observed the sun festival, locally known as Chhath, in Nepal on Tuesday.

Large numbers of devotees gathered on the banks of rivers and ponds Tuesday evening to worship the sun, which is regarded as a life force and God of energy. The festival is mostly celebrated in the southern belt of Nepal, known as Teria region.

Chhath is observed for four days, right after country's second biggest festival, Tihar as per the Nepali lunar calendar.

The festival is dedicated to the sun, which is regarded as a token of stability and prosperity, and a Vedic goddess "Chhathi Maiya."

On the occasion, dressed in sacred and colorful attires, family members gather in river or pond banks and take holy bath standing knee-deep and worship to the sun. The sun is worshiped to promote well-being, prosperity and progress in the family.

The government declared a public holiday on the occasion of this festival.