A devotee in Bhagalpur, Bihar displays freshly made Thekua — a wheat flour and jaggery sweet central to Chhath Puja — on the festival's third day, Sandhya Arghya, on 15 November 2026. (Photo: NationPress/Deepak Kumar)
A woman holds up Thekua, the signature sweet offering of Chhath Puja, during the Sandhya Arghya celebrations in Bhagalpur, Bihar on 15 November 2026. (Photo: NationPress/Deepak Kumar)
Women in Bhagalpur, Bihar fry Thekua — a deep fried wheat and jaggery sweet — in oil as part of Chhath Puja's third day ritual, Sandhya Arghya, on 15 November 2026. (Photo: NationPress/Deepak Kumar)
A devotee prepares Thekua by frying it in oil on the third day of Chhath Puja, Sandhya Arghya, in Bhagalpur, Bihar on 15 November 2026 — the stage when evening sun offerings are made. (Photo: NationPress/Deepak Kumar)
A woman fries Thekua ahead of the Sandhya Arghya ritual on the third day of Chhath Puja in Bhagalpur, Bihar, on 15 November 2026. The sweet is traditionally offered to the setting sun. (Photo: NationPress/Deepak Kumar)
Chhath Puja preparations were in full swing in Bhagalpur, Bihar on 15 November 2026 as a devotee fried Thekua — the festival's most iconic prasad — ahead of the Sandhya Arghya ceremony. (Photo: NationPress/Deepak Kumar)
Groups of women in Bhagalpur, Bihar collectively prepared Thekua in oil on 15 November 2026, the third day of Chhath Puja — reflecting the community spirit that defines the festival's food rituals. (Photo: NationPress/Deepak Kumar)
Women devotees in Bhagalpur, Bihar readied batches of Thekua in oil for the Sandhya Arghya ritual on the third day of Chhath Puja, 15 November 2026. (Photo: NationPress/Deepak Kumar)
Trays of freshly made Thekua were put on display in Bhagalpur, Bihar during the Sandhya Arghya phase of Chhath Puja on 15 November 2026, as devotees prepared prasad ahead of sunset offerings. (Photo: NationPress/Deepak Kumar)
Arranged platters of Thekua awaited ritual use at the Sandhya Arghya ceremony on Chhath Puja's third day in Bhagalpur, Bihar, on 15 November 2026. The sweet is a mandatory prasad item for the sun worship festival. (Photo: NationPress/Deepak Kumar)
A devotee carefully fried Thekua in oil as part of the Sandhya Arghya preparations on Chhath Puja's third day in Bhagalpur, Bihar, on 15 November 2026. The sweet is shaped and deep fried before being offered at the riverbank. (Photo: NationPress/Deepak Kumar)
Festive kitchens across Bhagalpur, Bihar stayed busy on 15 November 2026 as devotees fried Thekua in oil ahead of the Sandhya Arghya stage of Chhath Puja. (Photo: NationPress/Deepak Kumar)
The act of frying Thekua in oil is one of the defining sights of Sandhya Arghya — the third day of Chhath Puja — as witnessed in Bhagalpur, Bihar on 15 November 2026. (Photo: NationPress/Deepak Kumar)
Marking the Sandhya Arghya phase of Chhath Puja 2026 in Bhagalpur, Bihar, a devotee displayed Thekua on 15 November 2026 — the festival's fourth and final day, Usha Arghya (morning sun offering), follows on 16 November 2026. (Photo: NationPress/Deepak Kumar)