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With improving weather conditions, snow-capped mountains have become visible from Kathmandu Valley. 

The view of the white mountains beneath the blue sky was truly captivating.

Earlier, cyclone ‘Montha’ and westerly winds had an effect on the country’s weather system for a few days, bringing both rain and snowfall.

Now, the weather has cleared up and beautiful mountains can be seen from Kathmandu Valley.

This year's Chhath festival concluded today by offering Argha to the rising sun this morning. The four-day festival that began last Saturday was celebrated with main puja last evening and concluded today by offering Argha to the rising sun.

This festival concluded with much fanfare by offering curd (Argha) to the rising sun in the rivers and ponds across the country including the districts of Kathmandu.

Chhath was marked in a grand manner in the districts of Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha and Saptari in Mithila and others. The festival was celebrated with rituals on the banks of ponds, lakes and rivulets. The feature of the festival is to increase human being's interest in the truth and non-violence and encourage them to remain sympathetic to all living creatures.

The rising and setting suns are worshipped with devotion in the festival which is considered an attractive system of prayers to the Sun God.

There was a crowd of devotees and enthusiasts on the banks of ponds, rivers, rivulets and lakes in the festival. Chhath is a festival of goodwill, faith, and social harmony as people from all backgrounds come together in a common place to offer worship to the Sun God. It is widely believed that appeasing the Sun God brings happiness, prosperity, well-being, and longevity to family members.

The devotees observed fasting the whole day and performed puja for their ancestral deities to welcome the goddess of Sashti. Devotees consume fruits just one time on the second day of Chhath festival. There is a tradition of offering Argha to the setting sun and worshipping it in the evening by observing fast on Kartik Shukla Sasthi -- the main day of the festival.

On this day, devotees observe fasting and even do not drink water. There is a religious belief that no one will suffer from skin disease if Argha is offered by worshipping the sun ritually.

Preparations for Chhath festival are going on in full swing in various places of Kathmandu. Construction of Chhath ghat is also underway in Kamalpokhari.

Chhath festival, which is mainly celebrated in Tarai, is now being celebrated by a large number of people in the Kathmandu Valley.

During this festival, ghats are prepared by decorating the banks of rivers, lakes, and ponds.

As a major part of the festival, the setting sun is worshiped by offering argha while the same process is followed to worship the rising sun to bring the festival to an end.

Revelers observe a fast and stay awake all night and offer prayers to the rising sun.

It is widely believed that observing a fast in obeisance of Chhathi goddess will bring desired results and well-being for the family and all of their sorrows and troubles will vanish away.

With the end of monsoon season, colder air has started to move into the country. Migratory birds have arrived in Nepal along with this cold weather.

More than 100 species of birds migrate to Nepal every year. Most of them are waterfowl and ducks. Other birds like eagles, hawks and vultures also arrive in Nepal searching for favorable weather.

So far, more than 900 species of birds have been recorded in Nepal.

Many species of birds’ rest in Nepal before going to other countries, while small crane species, locally known as Karyangkurung, do not rest in Nepal but fly directly to India.

Birds that come to Nepal during the winter season prefer to stay in large rivers and lakes like Koshi, Karnali, Narayani, Rapti, Fewa Lake, Jagadispur Lake, Ghodaghodi Lake, and Barju Lake.

Here are the photographs of some migratory birds taken in various lakes and rivers in different places of Nepal.