Chhath Puja is one of the most important festivals that is mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, UP and Nepal. It starts from the sixth day of kartik month according to Hindu calendar. Chhath puja is celebrated in honour of Sun god and his wife Usha. This festival is observed for seeking blessing of divine sun god and his wife for supporting life on earth and for the wellbeing of family members. It is believed that the sun heals the earth and health too and offers prosperity, progress and positivity.
Chhath puja is continued for four days and the actual puja is done on the 3rd day. People follow a rigorous routine which includes fasting, offering prayers to the rising sun and setting sun while doing holy bath standing in water. Chhath puja also falls in summer after Holi but the Chhath puja falls in kartik month holds more significance and is very auspicious. It is also a festival of unity and love and affection among family. People used to gather in this festival to celebrate it together and seek blessings from Chhati maiya as well as from elders.
In 2025 it starts from 26th October, eco-friendly rituals performed near river banks make it unique among festivals. And offering Arghya to the rising and setting sun with communal fasting reflects gratitude towards nature. It holds spiritual and cultural significance observance among communities worldwide.
According to Hindu mythology every festival belongs to some stories. Similarly, Chhath puja is also connected to Hindu epics that include Ramayana and Mahabharata which are associated with Chhath puja.
- According to Ramayana it is believed that when Lord Rama returned to Ayodhaya with Maa Sita, they observed fast in honor of God Sun and broke it only after offering water to Sun at the setting It is one of the rituals among several that is followed by devotees during Chhath puja.
- According to Mahabharata it is believed that the famous character of Mahabharata karna, the son of Surya and Kunti, always offers prayer while standing in water to The same ritual is also performed by Pandavas and Draupadi to get their kingdom back.
There is also a scientific significance of observing Chhath puja. It is the best way to detoxify your body. Taking dips in water and exposing to the sun rays while sun rising increases the flow of positivity and improves the solar bio electricity that helps in the functionality of our body. Sunlight also kills the harmful bacteria and prepares our body for the winter environment.
Chhath puja is performed in a way which involves optimum absorption of Vitamin D and Calcium that is beneficial for women and it helps in increasing the immunity of the body.
Lets’ know about the rituals of Chhath puja:
- Nahay Khay: First day of the Chhath puja starts with Nahay Khay. On this day devotees take a dip in the river early in the morning and after the holy dip they take home the holy water to prepare offerings. And after taking holy bath they wear unstitched clothes for example – they tie saree or wrap it properly. It is the most important ritual that is done on the first day step by step carefully without having a conversation with
- Karna: The second day ritual is On this day devotees observe fasting the whole day and the fast ends after the sun sets. On this day devotees prepare offerings like kheer, bananas and rice for the family after offering ‘Arghya’ to sun and moon. After that devotees consume Kheer as Prasad and then after they have to observe fast for 36 hours without water
- Sandhya Arghya: The third day of Chhath puja is the day of preparing ‘Thekua’ the main Prasad of Chhath puja that is made up of wheat flour. The different thing is that the wheat that is used in Prasad is cleansed by the devotees itself then they grind the wheat to have flour by which offering can be prepared. This day also starts by offering Arghya to the sun and observing fasting without having water. And for offering all the items prepared or arranged for puja are kept in bamboo trays called soop. Then in the evening Arghya ritual is performed by devotees in the river or any other water bodies.
- Bihaniya Arghya: On the last day Chhath puja all devotees assemble in the the bank of the river early morning in Brahma muhurat dip into water and offer Arghya to the rising Sun Then they offer prasad also along with soop (bamboo tray) while doing parikrama at the same place in the water. And after finishing these rituals devotees break their fast by having ginger and sugar or anything else according to their rituals as people follow rituals also vary from state to state. At last devotees distribute the Prasad to the people present there in ghat and among the family members.