Chhath Puja is one of the most unique festivals in India, and it holds an important position on the spiritual spectrum of festivals. It is celebrated with joy in parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and the Terai region of Nepal. In 2025, it will be celebrated from October 25 to October 28. It is a festival dedicated to the Surya Dev or the Sun God, and for Chhathi Maiya, the goddess of fertility and wellbeing in Hinduism. Chhath Puja 2025 promises to be a delightful, austere, and disciplined celebration of the deities associated and the traditions that have stood the test of time. Without further ado, here’s a detailed guide on the Chhath Puja 2025 festivities in India.
Guide To Chhath Puja 2025: Significance, Dates, Rituals, Regions, And Unique Aspects, Explained
Significance Of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja is one of the oldest Hindu festivals, finding its mentions in the Rigvedas as well as stories of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Many legends believe that Sita from Ramayana performed Chhath Puja for the first time and was eventually blessed with two sons, Luv and Kush, for her devotion. So, many believe that it was Sita who started the tradition of this festival. Some also believe that Draupadi from the Indian epic Mahabharata also performed Chhath Puja to overcome difficulties faced by her husbands and regain their lost kingdom.
The festival primarily honors Lord Surya, or the God of Sun in Hinduism, and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the Goddess of prosperity, fertility, and protection. The underlying philosophy of Chhath Puja is the recognition of the sun’s role in sustaining life on Earth and worshipping Chhathi Maiya for progeny and prosperity. Moreover, the rituals not only emphasize purity but also discipline, gratitude, and devotion.
Chhath Puja 2025 Date Calendar
Chhath Puja 2025 dates are as follows:
- Day 1: Nahay Khay: Saturday, October 25, 2025
- Day 2: Kharna/Lohanda: Sunday, October 26, 2025
- Day 3: Sandhya Arghya: Monday, October 27, 2025
- Day 4: Usha Arghya: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Day-Wise Rituals Of Chhath Puja 2025, Explained
Day 1: Nahay Khay
Literally translating to ‘bath and eat’, the first day of Chhath Puja is when devotees begin the festival by taking a dip in the holy river or lake. They then eat pure vegetarian, satvik meal – meals not prepared with onion and garlic and made with minimal processed ingredients.
Day 2: Kharna/Lohanda
The second day involves devotees undergoing a strict ‘Nirjala’ fast. This is a kind of fast where devotees do not consume anything, not even a drop of water, till sunset. They then break their fast after sunset by consuming jaggery kheer with roti and fruits.
Day 3: Sandhya Arghya
Day 3 and Day 4 are often considered to be the most important days of Chhath Puja. On Day 3, devotees cary bamboo baskets filled with traditional sweets called thekua, fruits, and sugarcane. They stand in waist-deep water in a river or a similar water body and offer prayers and this offering to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya.
Day 4: Usha Arghya
Day 4 of Chhath Puja involves devotees offering morning prayers to the Sun God. After this ritual, they break their fast and share prasad or ritual food offerings with their family and friends. This ritual marks the end of the 4-day-long Chhath Puja.
Chhath Puja Traditions And Rituals
Even though there is no obligation or compulsion, Chhath Puja, for the most part, is performed by women, especially married women. They dress in new sarees, particularly red ones, and engage in intense spiritual practices, including fasting. It emphasizes the quality of purity, devotion, and nature worship. Devotees believe that performing the rituals of this festival with great devotion will bless them with prosperity and healthy off-spring, if they wish to have one.
By observing fasts, devotees engage in not just spiritual cleansing but also the cleansing of the body. Devotees also participate in singing folk songs, hymns, and prayers in honor of Chhati Maiya and the Sun God. During the four days, the traditional food of thekua is considered especially important and is offered as a ritual offering (prasad) to the deities.
Where Is Chhath Puja 2025 Celebrated?
Chhath Puja is a festival that is mostly celebrated in North India. It is a grand celebration in the states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and even some parts of Nepal. Even within Uttar Pradesh, the eastern part of the state is particularly famous for its Chhath Puja celebrations. Although many big cities like Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, etc have a considerable number of people who celebrate Chhath Puja, the scale of the festival in such metropolitan cities is not quite grand. However, the festival is a grand affair in many rural and semi-urban areas of the states and regions mentioned above.
How Chhath Puja Is A Unique Festival
- Sustainable celebration: Unlike many festivals that involve the careless use of firecrackers and generate a lot of waste by-products, Chhath Puja is a festival with minimal environmental impact. Most offerings are biodegradable and rituals are performed with austerity and discipline, without any excess use of firecrackers, loud music, or other factors causing harm to the environment.
- Community bonding: Chhath Puja 2025 is not a festival that is confined within a house. Women from all across their respective communities, towns, and villages come together to celebrate the festival.
- Traditional folk songs and folklore: The Bhojpuri and Maithili folk songs are especially integral to the celebration of Chhath Puja. It is because of this festival that many of the old folk songs and folklore in these languages have been preserved for decades and centuries.
- Austerity above all: Devotees engage in spiritual and physical cleansing during the four days of the Chhath Puja. Through rigorous fasting, sacred bathing, and other rituals, devotees practice devotional well-being and self-control.
Summing Up
Chhath Puja 2025 is about to be a grand yet rooted celebration of the Sun God and Chhathi Maiyya, two deities believed to bless devotees with prosperity, abundance, and protection. Celebrated mostly in North India and even the country of Nepal, the festival highlights the role of spiritual cleansing, self-control, and devotion in one’s life. Are you attending a Chhath Puja celebration near you or participating in the festival yourself?
