🕉️ Introduction
Chhath Puja 2025 is one of the most ancient and spiritual festivals of the Indo-Nepalese Hindu tradition, dedicated to the Sun God (Surya Dev) and Chhathi Maiya, the goddess of purity, motherhood, and protection.
It is celebrated with immense devotion in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, and across Nepal’s Madhesh, Lumbini, Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces.
Beyond India and Nepal, Chhath is also observed by the diaspora in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, and internationally in the United States, Canada, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Mauritius, UAE, and the United Kingdom — connecting devotees across the world through faith and tradition.
🌅 When and Why Chhath Puja Is Celebrated
Chhath Puja is celebrated twice a year —
- Chaiti Chhath (in the month of Chaitra, March–April)
- Kartik Chhath (in the month of Kartik, October–November), soon after Diwali
The festival spans four days, beginning on Kartik Shukla Chaturthi and concluding on Kartik Shukla Saptami.
Devotees observe Chhath Puja to express gratitude to Surya Dev, who sustains life on Earth, and to seek his blessings for prosperity, health, and harmony.
The Sun is considered the visible form of God — a symbol of light, energy, and purity — while Chhathi Maiya, his divine sister, blesses families with fertility, protection, and peace.
🌾 Four Sacred Days of Chhath Puja
1. Nahay Khay – The Day of Purification
The festival begins with a ritual bath in a holy river or pond.
Devotees clean their homes, cook lauki-bhaat (bottle gourd with lentils and rice), and offer it as bhog to the deity.
This meal is consumed as the last before the fast begins, symbolizing purification of body and mind.
2. Kharna – The Day of Fasting
On the second day, devotees observe a complete fast without food or water.
At sunset, the fast is broken with gur ke kheer (rice pudding made with jaggery), roti, and fruits — all prepared with sanctity and devotion.
This marks the beginning of a 36-hour nirjal fast (without water), reflecting extreme self-discipline and faith.
3. Sandhya Arghya – Offering to the Setting Sun
The third day is the most significant.
Devotees prepare prasada — including thekua, rice laddus, khajuria, tikri, kasar, and seasonal fruits like bananas, coconuts, and sugarcane.
In the evening, families gather by the riverside or ghats to offer arghya to the setting sun, accompanied by Chhath Geet (folk songs) and Vrat Katha recitations.
Later in the night, devotees perform Kosi Bharai — a ritual where sugarcanes are tied to form a sacred canopy, under which earthen lamps are lit, symbolizing divine illumination and family unity.
4. Usha Arghya – Offering to the Rising Sun
At dawn, devotees again gather near the water to offer prayers to the rising sun.
This symbolizes renewal, life, and gratitude for divine blessings.
The fast concludes with Paran, where devotees break their fast with prasada and water, marking the end of the sacred vow.
🌸 Traditional Food and Offerings
Chhath Puja is renowned for its sattvik (pure vegetarian) dishes, cooked without onion, garlic, or salt.
Each offering holds cultural and symbolic meaning:
- Thekua – Sweet wheat and jaggery cookies, the signature prasada of Chhath Puja.
- Kasar (Laddoo) – Made from rice or wheat flour and jaggery, symbolizing sweetness and prosperity.
- Rice Laddu (Peethha) – Filled with jaggery and coconut, representing fertility and abundance.
- Rasiaav-Roti – A simple, sacred meal prepared with devotion.
These dishes are not just offerings but expressions of love, gratitude, and cultural heritage.
🌿 Spiritual and Scientific Significance
Chhath Puja is both a spiritual discipline and a celebration of nature.
It encourages harmony between humans and the environment — devotees clean rivers, ponds, and surroundings as part of the rituals, symbolizing eco-conscious worship.
Scientifically, exposing the body to sunlight during sunrise and sunset allows safe absorption of solar energy, strengthening immunity and balancing bioelectric energy.
Fasting, meditation, and water rituals detoxify the body and bring mental peace — aligning ancient faith with modern wellness principles.
📜 Historical and Mythological Origins
In the Ramayana
After returning to Ayodhya following exile, Lord Rama and Mata Sita observed a fast and offered prayers to Surya Dev on the sixth day after Diwali.
It is believed that Sita performed the first Chhath Puja and was later blessed with Lava and Kusha.
In the Mahabharata
Kunti, mother of Karna, performed Chhath Puja to honor Surya Dev, resulting in Karna’s divine birth.
Draupadi also observed Chhath to regain prosperity and strength for the Pandavas.
Other Legends
According to the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Chhathi Maiya, the sixth form of Prakriti, is worshipped during Chhath for protection of children.
In Buxar, it is believed that Mata Aditi gave birth to Surya (Aditya) on the sixth day of Kartik, making this day sacred.
In Munger, Mata Sita is said to have performed Chhath on a rock in the Ganga River — today known as the Sitacharan Temple, a major site of faith.
🪔 The Message of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja teaches purity, humility, and devotion.
It is perhaps the only major Hindu festival that involves no idol worship or priests, emphasizing direct connection between the devotee and the divine.
Each ritual, song, and offering reflects gratitude toward nature — the Sun, water, air, and earth — which sustain all life.
For generations, Chhath Puja has united families, preserved environmental values, and upheld the spirit of selfless faith.
It reminds humanity that the simplest form of worship — gratitude — is the highest form of spirituality.
🌼 Conclusion
As the golden sun rises and sets over rivers and ghats, devotees fold their hands in reverence, seeking light not only for their homes but also for their hearts.
Chhath Puja is a celebration of life, balance, and divine connection — where faith meets nature and simplicity reveals divinity.
For more about traditional festivals, rituals, and puja traditions, visit 🌐 www.divyadarshnam.com
Divya Darshnam 🪔
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