Women devotees offer Sandhya Arghya to the Sun God on the third day of Chhath Puja in Ranchi, Jharkhand on 15 November 2026, even as toxic foam spread visibly across the severely polluted Swarnarekha River. (Photo: NationPress)
Devotees take a holy dip and perform Chhath rituals in the foam covered Swarnarekha River in Ranchi, Jharkhand on 15 November 2026, as an Indian Railways passenger train passes in the background — a striking contrast of faith and industrial pollution. (Photo: NationPress)
A lone woman devotee offers Sandhya Arghya to the Sun God on the banks of the polluted Swarnarekha River in Ranchi, Jharkhand on 15 November 2026, with toxic foam surrounding her — underscoring the river's deteriorating water quality. (Photo: NationPress)
Women devotees gather and prepare to offer Sandhya Arghya to the Sun God at the Swarnarekha River in Ranchi, Jharkhand on 15 November 2026 — the third day of Chhath Puja — reportedly undeterred by the thick layer of toxic foam blanketing the water. (Photo: NationPress)
Multiple groups of women devotees offer Sandhya Arghya to the Sun God along the banks of the foam laden Swarnarekha River in Ranchi, Jharkhand on 15 November 2026, as Chhath Puja 2026 celebrations continued despite the river's visible pollution. (Photo: NationPress)