Colourful scenes from Hindu festival

Hindu devotees expressed their thanks to the forces of nature, mainly the sun and river, as part of the annual Chhath Puja festival yesterday.
But festivities turned to tragedy when at least 18 people were killed following the collapse of a bridge that triggered a stampede.
READ MORE: 18 die in Hindu festival
An estimated 400,000 Hindu devotees thronged to the Ganges, which is revered by Hindus as holy.
The festival is celebrated across India and the number of devotees is likely to swell when dawn arrives today as worshippers gather to offer prayers to the rising sun
All images AAP