- Sep 26, 2025
Festivals are a way to celebrate life, give you the moment to be with your family, and turn your life into a celebration. Regarding festivals, India is one of the countries that embraces multiple festivals with great significance. Surprisingly, India celebrates over 1000 festivals annually, including major and regional ones. It showcases the diversity and religious aspects of India. All the festivals accommodate different moral values for the society, and one such puja is "Chhath Puja". The puja is a Hindu Vedic festival which is popularly celebrated in India. Apart from this, Chhath Puja is primarily celebrated by the Indian diaspora living in different parts of the world. Continue reading this post to learn the details about the Chhath Puja 2025.
What is Chhath Puja?
The word Chhath stands for the sixth, which indicates the time of the Chhath Puja being celebrated on the sixth day of the Hindu Lunar month of Kartika. Chhath Puja is a holy Hindu festival where devotees pray to the solar deity Sun. The puja is celebrated for up to four days, including a strict 36-hour fast without consuming food and water. The devotees also take the blessings of the Chhathi Maiya ( or Chhath Mata or Goddess Usha), who is said to be the Sun's sister, revered as the goddess who grants long life to children and protects them from getting ill. Chhath Puja is celebrated twice a year: Kartik Chhath and Chiti Chhath. Although the devotees widely celebrate the Kartik Chhath. Indian states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal are where the Chhath Puja has been honoured for several years. But nowadays, it is celebrated enthusiastically in Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
History of Chhath Puja
The history of Chhath Puja stretches back to the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The significance of Chhath Puja in the Ramayana can be traced when Rama and Sita returned to Ayodhya while completing their 14 years of exile with Laxmana. Upon arriving, Rama and Sita prayed to God Sun and Goddess Usha and fasted and performed Chhath Puja. As a result of Rama and Sita's devotion, both of them were blessed with two sons named Luv and Kush.
Besides, the natives of Champaran (Bihar, India) and Nepal have different beliefs. Due to rumours, Rama ordered Sita to leave Ayodhya, which led to the Sage Valmiki's Ashram. The ashram of Valmiki was situated on the edge of the Narayani (Gandhari) river, which is in Chitwan district at the India-Nepal border. While living in Sage Valmiki's ashram, Sita performed Chhath Puja and prayed to have the blessing of motherhood.
In the Mahabharata, Chhath Puja was celebrated by Kunti, King Pandu's first wife and mother of the Pandavas. Kunti celebrated the Puja after she and her five sons, Yudhisthir, Bhima, Arjun, Nakul, and Sahadeva, escaped the Lakshagriha. It is also said that Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, also celebrated Chhath Puja and asked the Chhathi Maiya for the Pandavas' victory in the Kurukshetra War. The place where Draupadi fasted and celebrated Chhath Puja is said to be near a spring in Ranchi's Nagdi Village. Till now, the natives of Nagdi's village celebrate Chhath Puja near the same spring and pray to the goddess for a long, healthy life for their children.
Another significance of Chhath Puja can be observed in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana. In the Purana, devotees celebrate Chhath Puja to receive the blessings of their children's protection from the Goddess Chhathi Maiya, the sixth form of Prakriti. Also, the Purana mentions that the Gahadavala Dynasty started the celebration of Chhath Puja from the holy city of Varanasi. In the Kashi Khanda, one can also find information about the Chhath Puja celebration initiation from Varanasi and later on, the Chhath Puja celebration began in other parts of India.
Important Dates of Chhath Puja 2025
Here are the important dates of Chhath Puja 2025; please have a glance:
- Nahaye Khaye: 25th October, Saturday.
- Lohnada/ Khrana/ Rassiaav- roti - 26th October, Sunday.
- Sandhya Arghya: 27th October, Monday.
- Usha Arghya/ Paran: 28th October, Tuesday.
Day-to-Day Description of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja is dedicated to the God Sun and his sister Goddess Chhathi Maiya. God Sun and Goddess Chhathi Maiya bless the devotees with longevity, well-being, and prosperity. The devotees of Chhath Puja are called "Parvaitin." Chhath Puja does not belong to women only; men also fast and seek blessings from God and the Goddess. In the Chhath Puja, devotees worship the setting and rising Sun. In the following lines, a full description of the Chhath Puja is discussed:
Day 1: Nahaye Khaaye
Nahaya Khaaye, on the first day of Chhath Puja, Parvaitin takes a bath early in the morning and eats simple food. The devotees bathe in a nearby pond, river, or clean water source to cleanse their bodies and souls. Bathing in clean water sources is essential to clearing all negativity and impurities. Upon bathing, the devotees start preparing food without onion or garlic. The food is cooked mainly in clay utensils to maintain the puja's sanctity and connect with nature. The food prepared is the Bottle Gourd Lauki Chane ki daal, steamed rice, Bottle Gourd Curry (Lauki Sabji), and fritters (Pakoras) of Bottle Gourd, Potato or Egg Plant. All the food is prepared in Desi Ghee and Himalayan Salt (Sendha Namak). The food is served, and the family members eat the food together, strengthening the bond. Before eating the food, devotees show gratitude to the God Sun and Chhathi Maiya for the prosperity and health they are blessed with. The soothing sound of the Chhathi Maiya's song, sung by Saharda Sinha, is enough to make you lose yourself in spirituality.
Day 2: Lohnada/ Kharna/ Rasiaav-roti
After the Nahaya Khaye, the second day is called Lohand or Khrna. This is a day-long fast for the devotees, where they can eat a meal (prasad) after the puja at sunset. Lohnada fasting includes at least 8-12 hours. The second day depicts the discipline and love towards their family and traditions. The rituals are heartwarming, reducing the gap between the old and new generations. On Lohnada, the devotees start preparing for the prasad after bathing. The devotees do not consume a single drop of water while preparing the food. Two significant types of prasad are prepared: savoury and sweet, depending on the region. The sweet prasad is called Rasiya Kheer, which is made up of rice, ghee, jaggery and dry fruits, and is prepared in the earthen pots. The rasiya kheer is accompanied by the soft, small rotis. However, the savoury prasad contains Chana Dal, steamed rice, small rice balls, soft small rotis, and jaggery.
After the prasad is prepared, it is offered to God Sun and Chhathi Maiya after sunset; later, the devotees consume it themselves. Once the devotees receive the prasad, the family members can eat it. The soulful prasad is also shared with neighbours and relatives embarking on an emotional journey.
Day 3: Sandhya Arghya
Sandhya Arghya means offering prayers to the setting Sun. The Sandhya Arghya is also considered the main puja in the Chhath Puja. This is the only festival for which prayers are being offered to the setting Sun. The devotees do not eat food or drink water throughout the day. All the family members need to stay clean throughout the puja, following the hygiene and holiness of the festivals. After the bath, the devotees start making the prasad to offer to God Sun and Goddess Chhathi Maiya. The prasad contains Thekua, rice ladoo, and seasonal fruits such as sugarcane, radish, sweet lime, banana, guava and more. The prasad is kept in the small bamboo baskets.
As the Sun sets, the devotees reach the nearby pond, river, or place where they can offer Sandhya Arghya. Without any nearby river body, devotees can also pray to Chhathi Maiya by creating a setup to perform Sandhya Arghya. The devotees stand in the water with the bamboo basket in their hands. Family members, friends, or relatives offer gangajal or milk to the God Sun and Chhathi Maiya. People sing Chhath Puja songs near the pond or river, creating a serene ambience that will make you feel goosebumps.
The devotee, along with the other family members, performs the ritual of Kosi Bharai. The puja is performed once you return from the Sandhya Arghya. This ritual involves a madap, which is made by tying around 5-7 sugar canes. Beneath the mandap, 12-24 diya made of clay are placed, that is lit with the help of ghee and cotton. Seasonal fruits and thekua are offered by the devotees in the mandap.
Day 4: Usha Arghya/ Paran
The final day of Chhath Puja is known as Usha Arghya or Paran. The story behind the name Usha Arghya represents that the arghya is offered to the rising sun. The devotees go to the same pond or river where they performed Sandhya Arghya. In the Usha Arghya, the offerings are the same as those in the Sandhya Arghya. The devotees thank God Sun and Chhathi Maiya for keeping their children safe and well. After the puja, the devotees break their fast at the pond or river with ginger, sugar, water, and a small amount of prasad. The puja is not just a mere festival, but it is a heartwarming emotion and duty that is being passed to the following generations.
Importance of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja facilitates the Vedic traditions while connecting with nature. The puja preserves the ancient rituals connecting people regardless of age. The major significance of Chhath Puja is given in the following lines:
- Cultural Importance: Chhath Puja is the soul festival of the natives of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh. The puja offers prayer to the setting and rising sun, symbolising the continuous cycle of life. Family, friends, and neighbouring people come together to celebrate Chhath Puja.
- Nature: The Sun is pivotal in Chhath Puja, as the devotees bow down to it. This indicates that the sun is a natural resource essential to maintaining life's equilibrium. Without the Sun, life on Earth would be quite difficult.
- Scientific Importance: The festivals have their own scientific importance, and so does Chhath Puja. The arduous 36-hour fast puts the body into detoxification mode. It has been scientifically proven that after fasting, the body goes into auto-repair mode, leading to enhanced brain and cellular functions.
- Gratitude: Showing gratitude to the Gods Sun and Chhathi Maiya reflects positive energy on the mind, body, and soul. By thanking God for the things you have, you remove negativity from your life.
Do's and Don'ts of Chhath Puja
- Non-vegetarian food is strictly denied and should not be used during the duration of Chhath Puja.
- The foods are prepared without using garlic or onion.
- If you are making prasad like thekua, you must do it after bathing and wearing fresh clothes.
- Drink coconut water, juice or normak water to maintain hydration in your body.
