Chhath Puja 2025 — Date, History, Significance & Rituals

Introduction

Chhath Puja is a deeply spiritual and ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of the sun god Surya Dev and his sister/consort Chhathi Maiya. Rooted in devotion, discipline and gratitude, the festival involves fasting, standing in water, offering “Arghya” (offerings) to the setting and rising sun, and paying homage to nature’s bounty and the sun’s life-giving energy. In 2025, Chhath Puja will be celebrated with particular fervour across the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Nepal, bringing together millions of devotees.

Date & Key Timings for 2025

• The main rituals of Chhath Puja 2025 will be held during the lunar month of Kartika (Shukla Paksha).
• According to widely accepted timings:
  • Nahay Khay (Day 1): Saturday, October 25, 2025.
  • Kharna (Day 2): Sunday, October 26, 2025.
  • Sandhya Arghya (Day 3 – Evening offering): Monday, October 27, 2025.
  • Usha Arghya (Day 4 – Morning offering): Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
• For example, in Delhi, the tithi (Shashthi) begins at 06:04 AM on 27 Oct and ends at 07:59 AM on 28 Oct.

Historical & Mythological Background

• Chhath Puja is believed to date back to Vedic times, with references to sun-worship in ancient texts.
• According to legend, in the epic Ramayana, after returning to Ayodhya, Sita performed the “Surya Shashthi” ritual and observed Chhath to thank the sun god.
• It is also linked to stories of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata and King Priyavrat’s prayer to Chhathi Maiya for children.

Significance of Chhath Puja

• Worship of the Sun: The sun is venerated as the ultimate source of energy, light and life on Earth. Devotees offer thanks for sustaining life and nature’s rhythms.
• Purity & Discipline: The festival requires devotees to observe strict rituals, including fasting, vegetarianism, no onions/garlic, bathing in holy waters, standing in river ghats during offerings — all symbolising purification of body and mind.
• Gratitude & Nature: The festival reminds us of our dependence on nature, the sun, water and seasonal cycles. It emphasises humility and gratitude.
• Family welfare & children’s health: Worship of Chhathi Maiya is often linked to wishes for children’s wellbeing, family prosperity and overall health.
  

Rituals & Celebrations — A 4-Day Guide

Day 1: Nahay Khay

Devotees take a holy bath in a river or pond, cleanse the body, and have a satvik meal (vegetarian, no onion/garlic).

Day 2: Kharna

Devotees observe a full day fast, breaking it after sunset with special prasad (like kheer, puris) and then continue the fast (often water-fast) until next day.

Day 3: Sandhya Arghya

In the evening, devotees gather at a river bank or water body, stand waist-deep in water, and offer arghya to the setting sun, often accompanied by songs — "Chhath geet".

Day 4: Usha Arghya

At dawn, standing in water, devotees offer arghya to the rising sun, break the fast, distribute prasad to family and community. The festival culminates in collective prayers and offerings.

Other traditional rituals: preparing thekua (sweet made of wheat flour, jaggery & ghee), lighting diyas (earthen lamps) in water at ghats, tying sugar-cane stalks, and communal gatherings.

Where & How It’s Celebrated

• Especially popular in Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and parts of Nepal.
• Ghats on rivers like the Ganga, Gandak, Bagmati and many other local water bodies become sanctified sites for the rituals.
• Urban areas and diaspora communities have adapted the tradition — rooftop or artificial water tanks, city-ghats, organised community events.
• The festival is noted for being eco-friendly: no idols immersed (visually minimal pollution), focus on water, nature and simplicity.

Modern Relevance & Themes

• Chhath Puja’s emphasis on sun-energy, water purity, nature-respect, and gratitude resonates strongly with modern themes of sustainability, environment and wellness.
• The communal aspect fosters social cohesion, unity and shared cultural identity especially among migrant communities away from homeland.
• Infrastructure preparations around major ghats have increased ahead of 2025, indicating the large scale of participation and pilgrimage.

Conclusion

Chhath Puja is far more than a series of rituals; it is a profound celebration of life-force — the sun, water, nature and human devotion all come together. As the sun rises and sets over the ghats, millions stand in reverence, fasting, offering, singing and connecting with something far greater than themselves. In 2025, as millions prepare to observe this majestic festival between October 25–28, let each of us reflect on the power of gratitude, purity and the eternal rhythm of nature that sustains us all.

May the light of Surya Dev and the blessings of Chhathi Maiya illuminate your family’s path to health, prosperity and harmony. Happy Chhath Puja!