Among India’s many ancient and sacred festivals, Chhath Puja holds a unique and divine significance. It is celebrated mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal’s Terai region. Chhath Puja is one of the oldest known Hindu festivals deeply spiritual, environmentally harmonious, and rooted in gratitude for the life sustaining power of the Sun.
The word “Chhath” literally means “six” and the festival is celebrated on the sixth day after Diwali. It is marked by fasting, cleanliness, and offering prayers to the rising and setting Sun for well being, prosperity, and longevity.
Chhath Puja 2025
Chhath Puja 2025 will be celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm by millions of devotees across India and abroad. The festival will span four days, each day holding deep ritualistic meaning and spiritual discipline.
Nahai-Khaay – Saturday, October 25, 2025
The first day of Chhath Puja marks Nahai-Khaay, where devotees take a holy bath, usually in a river or pond, and prepare a sattvic (pure) meal. The meal is cooked in a purified kitchen without onion or garlic. This marks the spiritual cleansing that begins the Chhath journey.
Kharna – Sunday, October 26, 2025
On this day, devotees observe a day-long fast, which is broken only after sunset with gur ki kheer (sweet rice made with jaggery and milk) and fruits. This day also marks the beginning of the rigorous Nirjala fast—a fast without food or water that continues for the next 36 hours.
Sandhya Arghya (Evening Offering) – Monday, October 27, 2025
On this day, devotees gather along riverbanks and water bodies to offer Arghya (offerings) to the setting Sun. The sight of thousands of women dressed in bright traditional attire, holding soops (bamboo baskets) filled with fruits, sugarcane, and thekua (traditional sweets), while singing Chhath songs, creates a divine and unforgettable atmosphere.
Usha Arghya (Morning Offering) – Tuesday, October 28, 2025
The final day of Chhath Puja begins before dawn. Devotees offer morning Arghya to the rising Sun, praying for prosperity, health, and family harmony. After the offering, the fast is concluded with Parana, marking the end of the four-day festival.
Why Do We Celebrate Chhath Puja?
Chhath Puja is not just a ritual it is a spiritual discipline rooted in purity, devotion, and gratitude. The festival is celebrated to thank Lord Surya, the eternal source of energy and life. The Sun is believed to heal diseases, remove negativity, and bestow prosperity.
The act of standing in water and offering Arghya symbolizes surrender to divine energy and alignment with the cosmic rhythm. It is believed that those who observe Chhath Puja with sincerity and faith are blessed with good health, wealth, and happiness.
Chhath Puja also represents a strong bond between humans and nature. The offerings, rituals, and songs all reflect an awareness of the Earth’s natural elements Sun, water, air, and soil.
Origin and History of Chhath Puja
The origins of Chhath Puja can be traced back to ancient times, even before Vedic civilization. References to Sun worship appear in the Rigveda, where sages performed similar rituals to invoke solar energy for physical and spiritual well-being.
According to mythology, Draupadi and the Pandavas performed Chhath Puja to regain their lost kingdom and invite divine blessings. The festival is also connected to Lord Rama and Goddess Sita. After their return to Ayodhya from exile, Sita is believed to have observed the Chhath fast and offered prayers to the Sun God on the sixth day of Kartik month.
Historically, Chhath was a way to maintain ecological balance and cleanse both body and mind through disciplined fasting and meditation under the Sun’s natural energy.
Who Do We Worship During Chhath Puja?
During Chhath Puja, devotees primarily worship Lord Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, who is considered the Goddess of energy, children, and fertility.
- Lord Surya is revered as the visible form of the divine, sustaining all life on Earth. He symbolizes power, wisdom, and illumination—both physical and spiritual.
- Chhathi Maiya, also known as Usha, is believed to be the consort of Surya Dev. She represents the first rays of dawn that bring hope, healing, and vitality.
Devotees seek their blessings for the well-being of their families, the prosperity of their homes, and the protection of their children.
Important Rituals of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja rituals are deeply symbolic and observed with strict purity. Each step reflects devotion, discipline, and the harmony between the physical and spiritual realms.
1. Purification and Preparation
Before Chhath begins, homes are thoroughly cleaned and sanctified. Devotees maintain strict purity, using only new or cleaned utensils and cooking food with utmost devotion.
2. Fasting and Self-Control
Devotees undertake the Nirjala Vrat (fast without water) for over 36 hours. This is one of the most rigorous fasts in Hindu tradition, symbolizing deep faith and the ability to overcome human limitations.
3. Offering Arghya to the Sun
The most sacred ritual of Chhath Puja is the offering of Arghya to the setting and rising Sun. Devotees stand in waist-deep water, facing the Sun, and offer fruits, flowers, and sacred water as gratitude for sustaining life on Earth.
4. Traditional Songs and Offerings
Chhath is known for its beautiful folk songs sung by women, invoking the blessings of Chhathi Maiya and Surya Dev. Offerings such as thekua, kasar, fruits, and sugarcane are placed in bamboo baskets known as soop.
5. Breaking the Fast (Parana)
After offering the final morning Arghya, devotees break their fast with fruits and prasad. This ritual marks not just the completion of fasting but also the renewal of spiritual energy.
The Environmental and Scientific Significance
Beyond its religious importance, Chhath Puja holds immense environmental and scientific value. It promotes eco-friendly living, as all offerings are natural, no plastics, chemicals, or artificial decorations are used.
Standing in water and meditating under the Sun helps detoxify the body, balances the solar plexus (Manipura chakra), and improves mental clarity and emotional balance. The timing of Chhath, right after the monsoon and before winter, helps boost immunity and prepare the body for seasonal change.
Conclusion
Chhath Puja 2025, beginning on October 25 and concluding on October 28, is more than a ritual; it’s a sacred dialogue between humanity and nature, the soul and the Sun. It teaches us gratitude, discipline, and the power of devotion.
As devotees stand before the glowing horizon, offering Arghya to the Sun, it’s not merely a prayer for prosperity, it’s a vow to live in harmony with the cosmic rhythm, honoring the divine light within and around us.
Chhath Puja reminds us that true worship is not about grandeur, it’s about purity of heart, self-control, and unwavering faith. May Chhathi Maiya bless every devotee with good health, abundance, and everlasting light.
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