📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / http://aurangabad.bih.nic.in/deosuryamandir/
Religion
Thousands flock to Deo’s ancient west‑facing Sun Temple for Chhath celebrations
✍️ News18
🗓 12 Nov 2026, 04:02 AM
👁 5
The historic Sun Temple at Deo in Bihar, noted for its rare west‑facing sanctum, draws thousands of devotees each year during the Chhath festival.
Deo, a town in Bihar's Aurangabad district, is home to an ancient Sun Temple whose sanctum faces west – a rarity among Hindu temples that traditionally orient east. The temple’s unusual alignment has become a focal point for worshippers during the annual Chhath puja, a major solar‑worship festival observed across the state.
During the Chhath celebrations, devotees gather in large numbers at the temple to offer prayers to Surya, seeking blessings for health and prosperity. The influx of visitors transforms the usually tranquil precinct into a bustling hub of ritual activity, with traditional offerings and chants echoing through the compound.
Local authorities monitor the crowd to ensure safety and maintain order, while the temple’s caretakers oversee the ceremonial arrangements. The continued popularity of the site underscores its cultural significance and the enduring appeal of the Chhath festival in Bihar’s religious landscape.
The west‑facing sanctum, which sets this temple apart from other Sun shrines, draws particular interest from scholars and pilgrims alike, reinforcing Deo’s status as a notable destination for spiritual tourism in the region.
As the sun rises and sets over the temple’s courtyard, thousands of participants complete the prescribed rites, reaffirming the ancient tradition that links the community to its solar deity.
During the Chhath celebrations, devotees gather in large numbers at the temple to offer prayers to Surya, seeking blessings for health and prosperity. The influx of visitors transforms the usually tranquil precinct into a bustling hub of ritual activity, with traditional offerings and chants echoing through the compound.
Local authorities monitor the crowd to ensure safety and maintain order, while the temple’s caretakers oversee the ceremonial arrangements. The continued popularity of the site underscores its cultural significance and the enduring appeal of the Chhath festival in Bihar’s religious landscape.
The west‑facing sanctum, which sets this temple apart from other Sun shrines, draws particular interest from scholars and pilgrims alike, reinforcing Deo’s status as a notable destination for spiritual tourism in the region.
As the sun rises and sets over the temple’s courtyard, thousands of participants complete the prescribed rites, reaffirming the ancient tradition that links the community to its solar deity.