Chhath Puja is one of the oldest and most heartfelt festivals of eastern India and Nepal. Unlike many festivals that center on temples and idols, Chhath is performed on the open banks of rivers, ponds and lakes.
It is a simple, strict and deep festival of faith with a strong community connection. People stand in water, offer prayers to the setting and rising sun, and follow rules that emphasise purity, cleanliness and family harmony.
Below you will find a comprehensive guide on what Chhath is, when it falls in 2025, why it matters, the four ritual days, the folk stories around it, how people prepare, and what Chhath looks like in modern life.
Chhathe Puja 2025: The Four Days of Devotion
- 25th October 2025: Nahay Khay (Chaturthi)
- 26th October 2025: Kharna/Lohanda (Panchami)
- 27th October 2025: Sandhya Arghya (Shashthi)
- 28th October 2025: Usha/Bhor Arghya and Paaran
Note: The dates are decided according to the Panchang and can vary every year.
Source: The News Post (Bihar/Jharkhand)
What is Chhath Puja?
Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God/ Surya Devta. It is four days’ vrat (festival) to express gratitude to the Sun for life and seeks blessings for longevity and prosperity.
Chhath Puja includes strict ritual, fasting, bathing in holy water (river, ponds, etc), and making offerings (arghya) to the setting and rising sun. Crores of people across East UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Nepal celebrate this festival.
When is it celebrated?
Chhath Puja is celebrated twice a year: Kartik Chhath (October-November) and Chaiti Chhath (March-April)
Kartik Chhath is the sixth day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartika/Kartik, which falls between October and November. This four-day vrat is dedicated to the worship of the Surya Devta and the Chhathi Maiya. It comes on the sixth day after Diwali.
Chaiti Chhath is the sixth day of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra. The vrat procedure is the same as of Kartik Chhath which is coming on 25th October 2025 including fasting, holy bath, thekua, seasonal fruits, evening and dawn arghya to the Sun God.
(Source: Google Arts & Culture)
Where is it celebrated?
Chhath is primarily celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, parts of West Bengal, Odisha and in the Terai region of Nepal. In recent decades, migrant communities have taken Chhath to big cities across India (Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai) and overseas. Public ghats and community centres become temporary hubs for the festival.
What is the significance?
At its heart, Chhath is gratitude to the Sun (Surya) and to Chhathi Maiya, a local form of the mother goddess associated with fertility and protection. The sun is praised as the source of life, energy and good health. Devotees believe that sincere worship during Chhath brings blessings for children, family well-being and recovery from illness. The rituals stress purity, self-discipline (including long fasts), and community cooperation).
Railways has announced 12,000 special trains for Diwali and Chhath Puja. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says passengers undertaking onward journeys between October 13 and 26 and return journeys between November 17 and December 1 will be offered a 20% discount on return tickets. (Source: The Hindu)
(Source: Manoj Muntashir Shukla)
Four Days of Chhath Puja: Simple Step-by-Step Guide
Day 1: Nahay Khay (Holy Bath and Eat)
Devotees begin with a ritual bath in a river or pond. Homes and utensils are cleaned thoroughly. After the bath, a simple satvik meal (no onion/garlic, often rice and lentils) is eaten. Families buy fruits, sugarcane, and earthen diyas for the puja.
Day 2: Kharna (Fasting and Kheer)
This is a day of fasting (some observe a strict fast with water restraint). After sunset, the fast is broken with a special offering, usually gur (jaggery) kheer, roti and fruits, which are then distributed as prasad. The fast is observed to purify intentions and strengthen resolve.
Day 3: Sandhya Arghya (Evening Offering to the Setting Sun)
The main public gathering happens on the third day. Devotees, often women or the whole family, go to riverbanks and stand waist-deep in water at sunset. They offer arghya (offering of water and prasad) to the setting sun while holding baskets of fruits, thekua (a sweet biscuit), and lamps. Community singing and folk songs create a moving atmosphere.
Day 4: Usha Arghya (Morning Offering to the Rising Sun and Parana/Paaran)
Before sunrise devotees again stand in water to offer arghya to the rising sun. The fast (which can be about 36 hours for some) is broken after this ritual. Families share prasad, and ghats clear slowly as the festival concludes.
(Source: Asan Zindagi) *Although video is from 2022, the process remain same.
Chhath Puja: Folktales, Legends and History
Chhath is woven into India’s great epics and regional stories. Here’s some historical connections and stories related to this holy festival. It is the emotion and core of every Bihari in India and worldwide.
Ramayana Link
It is said that Sita observed worship of the sun after returning to Ayodhya; Chhath is associated with thanksgiving for fertility and family gift (some traditions say Sita performed Chhath to be blessed with sons).
Mahabharata link
Stories link Kunti (mother of the Pandavas) and Karna (son of the Sun God) to sun-worship rituals; Karna is often cited as a symbol of devotion to Surya.
Local Goddess Chhathi Maiya
Many folk tales treat Chhathi Maiya as a protective sister or consort of Surya with powers to bless families and children.
Brahma Vaivarta Purana
According to legend, King Priyavrat, the first son of Manu Swayambhu, was childless. He used to remain depressed as a result of this. Maharishi Kashyap requested him to perform a yajna for putra prapti. Queen Malini then gave birth to a son, but the baby was born dead unfortunately.
This was a sad situation for the King and the Queen. Seeing the misfortune of King and Queen, Shashti Maa appeared in the Sky seated on a craft.
The king prayed to Mata, Manasputri (Daughter) of Lord Brahma, who protects children and blesses childless parents with children. The Goddess gave life to the child with her hands and blessed the King and the Queen. Overjoyed by Mata’s grace, the King started Chhath Puja in gratitude.
These stories highlight both a pan-Indian Vedic past (sun worship) and strong local folk traditions that kept Chhath alive in the eastern region.
How Devotees Prepare: Practical Notes
Cleaning & Purity: Homes, utensils and ghats are cleaned days in advance. Many families prepare prasad (thekua, fruits, jaggery kheer) at home to ensure purity.
Community Work: In cities, local groups arrange temporary ghats, electricity, first aid and toilets. In villages, neighbours help each other bring items to the riverbank — it’s a very communal festival.
Travel & Logistics: Because Chhath follows Diwali, many people travel home. Railways and local authorities often run special services and manage crowds. In 2025, Indian Railways planned extra trains for the festival season to handle travel demand.
Modern Challenges and Responses
Chhath’s reliance on clean water bodies has highlighted environmental needs. Municipalities and district administrations increasingly clear ghats, remove encroachments, and run cleanliness drives before Chhath to protect devotees and the environment.
Local campaigns often ask devotees to offer only biodegradable prasad and to avoid plastics on ghats. These efforts are now a regular part of Chhath planning in many cities.
What makes Chhath special?
Simplicity and Nature Worship: There is no idol to be installed, worship happens directly to the sun.
Discipline: The fasting, food rules and purity practices give the festival a strong spiritual focus.
Community: Chhath draws everyone to riverbanks, neighbours, relatives and complete strangers help one another.
Continuity: Ancient Vedic ideas of solar worship meet local folk stories and modern civic life, keeping traditions alive in changing times.
The Global Celebration and Recognition of Chhath Puja
In a proud cultural milestone, the Government of India has begun the process to nominate Chhath Mahaparva, the grand festival of the Sun, for inclusion in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This initiative highlights the festival’s deep spiritual roots and its growing global presence.
The nomination process requires extensive documentation, active consent from local communities, and collaboration between countries where Chhath is celebrated. The Sangeet Natak Akademi, under the Ministry of Culture, is leading the preparation of the official dossier, with expert support from the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).
Adding an international dimension, Indian officials have engaged with diplomats from the UAE, Suriname, and the Netherlands, all home to large Indian diaspora communities that observe Chhath with great devotion.
Indian embassies in Mauritius and Fiji have also joined the effort, emphasizing the festival’s global cultural footprint. This cooperative approach not only strengthens India’s nomination but also celebrates how Chhath connects Indian heritage with the wider world.
Conclusion
Chhath Puja stands as a shining example of India’s timeless bond with nature, discipline, and devotion. As it moves toward UNESCO recognition, the festival’s message of gratitude to the Sun and respect for the environment gains a well-deserved global spotlight. From the ghats of Bihar to the shores of Mauritius and Fiji, Chhath unites millions through faith and tradition, reminding the world that India’s cultural heritage is not just ancient, but also deeply alive and inclusive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can observe Chhath?
Anyone can observe Chhath (men and women, married or unmarried) but traditionally women (especially married women) lead the ritual for family welfare.
Do I need a priest to perform Chhath?
No. Chhath rituals are usually family-based and performed without a priest. Community elders often guide newcomers.
What is “thekua”?
Thekua is a crunchy sweet made from wheat flour, jaggery and ghee. It’s an important prasad for Chhath.
Why offer to the setting and rising sun?
The two offerings represent thanks for the day that is ending (sandhya) and a prayer for the new day (usha), acknowledging the sun’s life-giving power.
How can I celebrate respectfully in a city ghats?
Follow local rules, use biodegradable offerings, avoid throwing plastic in water, and join community groups for safe and clean celebrations.
About The Author
I’m Biswajit Singh—a storyteller at the crossroads of business, technology, and current affairs. With a Master’s in Mass Communication and English Literature and 8+ years in SEO content writing, I craft narratives that decode AI, ML, digital trends, and global shifts. My mission: turning complex ideas into content that informs, engages, and inspires.
