Chhath Puja 2025 will be celebrated from October 25 to 28 with traditional rituals, fasting, and offerings dedicated to Surya Dev.
The sacred festival of Chhath Puja 2025 will be celebrated from October 25 to October 28. It is a four-day occasion of devotion, purity, and gratitude dedicated to Surya Dev (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya. Chhath Puja is recognized as a Vedic festival of great cultural and spiritual significance in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal and is also celebrated in various Indian cities due to migration.
The four days of this festival are Nahay Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya, and Usha Arghya. Each of these days has its own significance and rituals. The time of arghya (offering to the Sun) varies from place to place and is determined by the lunar calendar. In 2025 Sandhya Arghya, or evening arghya, is expected to take place between 5:30 and 5:45 PM. Usha Arghya, or morning arghya, is expected to take place around 6:15 to 6:45 AM. The devotee is encouraged to verify the corresponding muhurat in the local panchang.
Day-by-Day Rituals of Chhath Puja
Day 1 – Nahay Khay: The festival begins with the devotee taking a holy bath in a river or pond and is also expected to purify their homes. The devotee will prepare some boiled and pure food without using onion, garlic, or salt in the preparation. The meal is first offered to the deity and then eaten as prasad.
Day 2 – Kharna: On this day, devotees observe a full-day fast, then break the fast after sunset by preparing kheer, gur roti, and fruits. After this ritual, a strict 36-hour-long fast without water begins, showcasing the devotee’s strong faith and discipline.
Day 3 – Sandhya Arghya: The third day is the most spiritually charged moment of Chhath Puja. Devotees assemble together at riverbanks, ponds, or man-made ghats in the evening, while dressed in traditional attire, to offer arghya to the unwinding Sun with a basket including thekua, fruits, sugarcane, coconuts, and diyas. The only sounds in the atmosphere are hymns and folk songs offered to Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya.
Day 4 – Usha Arghya and Parana: The last day begins before sunrise when devotees again assemble at the ghats to offer arghya to the rising sun. This signifies the ending of their fast as they pray for health, happiness, and prosperity. Immediately after offering arghya, devotees break their fast with parana and share prasad with family, neighbors, and the community.
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Rituals, Rules, and Offerings
Purity and cleanliness are central to Chhath Puja. Devotees strive to maintain a clean environment and prepare foods using completely natural and untainted ingredients. The main offerings include thekua (a sweet made of wheat and jaggery), sugarcane, coconuts, and seasonal fruits, all placed in bamboo baskets. Women observing the fast, called vratin, wear new traditional sarees and often remain silent or recite hymns while performing rituals.
History and Significance of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja is one of the oldest known festivals of sun worship in India, believed to have originated in Vedic times. Ancient scriptures mention similar practices where sages and queens performed rituals to worship the sun for health and prosperity. The Mahabharata also refers to Draupadi and the Pandavas observing Surya worship to overcome hardships and regain their kingdom.
The festival is dedicated to Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya, the goddess believed to protect children and bless families. Devotees thank the Sun for sustaining life on Earth and pray for well-being, peace, and prosperity. Chhath Puja also represents harmony with nature and acknowledges the importance of solar energy for all forms of life.
Civic and Environmental Preparations
Every year, lakhs of devotees gather on riverbanks and ponds to perform rituals. To ensure safety and hygiene, state governments and local authorities in Bihar, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh make elaborate arrangements, including temporary ghats, lighting, sanitation facilities, and medical camps.
Authorities also encourage eco-friendly celebrations by promoting the use of biodegradable baskets and natural offerings instead of plastic items. Volunteers and environmental groups organize cleanup drives to keep rivers and ponds clean before and after the rituals.
Major Locations of Celebration
Some of the most famous places to witness Chhath Puja are Kangan Ghat and Digha Ghat in Patna, Sun Ghat in Gaya, Adalat Ghat in Varanasi, and Yamuna Ghats in Delhi. Devotees also celebrate the festival in community ponds and artificial ghats in metropolitan cities across India and in countries like Nepal and Mauritius.
The Essence of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja isn’t merely a festival; it is a spiritual experience of self-control and discipline, appreciation and prostration, and devotion and faith. In addition to uniting families and communities, it promotes stewardship for nature. It reminds us that the rising sun on the final day signifies rebirth and hope for humanity and the cycle of energy that allows life to exist.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- When is Chhath Puja celebrated in the year 2025?
Chhath Puja will be celebrated in India and Nepal from October 25 to October 28, 2025.
- What is the purpose of Chhath Puja?
Chhath Puja is about showing gratitude to Surya Dev and to Chhathi Maiya for life, energy, and prosperity.
- Why do people fast during Chhath Puja?
Fasting is a demonstration of abstaining from food or drink while holding a commitment of purity, devotion, and abstinence. For 36 hours, devotees partake in a nirjala vrat fast (fasting without drinking).
- What are the main offerings during Chhath Puja?
The primary offerings are a type of ‘thekua’ (a dessert), fruits, sugarcane, coconuts, and clay diyas (small oil lamps). These offerings, while placed in a bamboo basket, are offered to the sun.
- Where are the biggest celebrations for Chhath Puja held?
The biggest celebrations happen in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern UP, and Delhi, especially when celebrated at river ghats in Patna and on the bank of the Yamuna River.
- How is Chhath Puja becoming eco-friendly?
Authorities and devotees promote eco-friendly practices by avoiding plastic, using natural materials, and conducting river-cleaning drives after rituals.
