Chhath Puja 2025 will be celebrated from October 25 to October 28, 2025, as confirmed by sources including the Times of India and Drik Panchang. Chhath Puja stands as one of the most radiant and ancient festivals of Hindu tradition, venerating the cosmic energy of the Sun God (Surya Narayan) and his divine consort, Usha (Chhathi Maiya). Celebrated with grandeur in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and across parts of Nepal, it exemplifies spiritual purity, ecological awareness, and collective devotion. Distinct from idol-centric worship, Chhath Puja is a holistic celebration of pranic energy — the life force present in light, water, and air.
The Sun symbolizes life and vitality, sustaining all beings with his eternal radiance. Devotees express their gratitude for his boundless energy, seeking blessings for longevity, prosperity, and harmony. The festival begins six days after Diwali, during the month of Kartika (October–November), aligning with the time when the Sun transitions toward its southern journey (Dakshinayan), marking a sacred seasonal balance.
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Historical Roots and Mythological Connections
Chhath Puja possesses prehistoric origins that predate even the organized structures of modern Hinduism. Ancient texts, notably the Rigveda and Atharvaveda, reference rituals of Surya Upasana — the worship of the Sun through Mantras and self-purification. These early practices evolved into the structured observances known today.
Lord Rama and Goddess Sita
One legend attributes the inception of Chhath Puja to Goddess Sita, who, upon returning to Ayodhya after exile, observed a fast and worshipped the Sun at the onset of the Shashti Tithi of Kartika Sukla Paksha. This act of purification became the inspiration for devotees to emulate.
Karna – The Son of Surya
Another mythological narrative centers around Karna, the famed warrior of the Mahabharata, legendary for his celestial radiance bestowed by Surya himself. It is said that Karna engaged in rigorous water-based meditation for hours to honor his divine father, reinforcing the symbolism of devotion, endurance, and solar force.
Draupadi and the Pandavas
In yet another ancient tale, Draupadi and the Pandavas observed Chhath rituals to reclaim their lost kingdom, signifying divine gratitude and the faith that righteous austerity leads to liberation.
These timeless narratives transformed Chhath Puja into a socio-religious festival of purity, austerity, and cosmic gratitude — an eternal dialogue between human endurance and divine energy.
Spiritual, Scientific, and Environmental Significance
Spiritual Dimension
Chhath Puja epitomizes discipline, austerity, and transcendence. The offerings or Arghya made to the rising and setting Sun signify balance between material and spiritual worlds. The devotees, known as Vratis, believe that this purity and abstinence invite divine grace and rejuvenate both mind and body.
Health and Scientific Aspect
From a scientific standpoint, sunlight exposure during dawn and dusk allows the body to absorb Vitamin D naturally. The 36-hour Nirjala fast helps in detoxification and clearing metabolic impurities. The silence and meditative focus involved in Chhath rituals induce mental clarity and serenity, echoing yogic values.
Environmental Awareness
Chhath Puja highlights the harmony between humans and nature. Every ritual incorporates eco-friendly materials — bamboo baskets, banana leaves, clay diyas, and natural ingredients — emphasizing sustainability. Celebrating the Sun and water simultaneously cultivates environmental stewardship and inspires communities to maintain ecological sanctity.
Social and Cultural Aspect
The festival unites communities across social hierarchies. People collaborate on ghat cleanliness drives, construct temporary shelters, and assist others irrespective of caste or creed. The communal participation transforms the ghat into a temple of fellowship and shared faith.
The Four Sacred Days of Chhath Puja
Spanning four consecutive days, each ritual phase symbolizes an aspect of purification and devotion, forming a spiritual journey from physical cleansing to divine union.
Day 1: Nahay Khay – The Ritual of Purification (Saturday, October 25, 2025)
The initiation begins with Nahay Khay, literally “Bath and Eat.” Devotees immerse themselves in holy rivers such as the Ganga, symbolizing purification of sins. Homes are meticulously cleaned, representing both physical and mental renewal.
The meal — a simple satvik preparation of rice, bottle gourd (lauki), and chana dal cooked in pure ghee — signifies humility and simplicity. This dietary purification anchors the devotee’s journey toward restraint and sacred focus.
Day 2: Kharna – The Day of Abstinence (Sunday, October 26, 2025)
Kharna, also called Lohanda, marks an entire day of fasting without water. At sunset, devotees prepare gur-ki-kheer, roti, and fruits, which are offered first to the deities and then consumed as Prasad. This practice reflects self-discipline and surrender to divine nourishment.
After Kharna, Vratis undertake a 36-hour Nirjala fast, symbolizing unwavering resolve, suppressing worldly needs in pursuit of higher consciousness.
Day 3: Sandhya Arghya – Evening Offerings to the Setting Sun (Monday, October 27, 2025)
This phase is the heart of Chhath Puja. As dusk descends, masses gather on riverbanks to offer Arghya — sanctified water offered using bamboo baskets called Soop, filled with fruits, thekua, sugarcane sticks, and earthen diyas.
Women dress in vibrant traditional sarees symbolizing solar brilliance — shades of saffron, turmeric, and gold dominate the celebrations. The reflections of thousands of flames rippling across river waters evoke a sublime spectacle, blending devotion, light, and nature in one harmonized vision.
Day 4: Usha Arghya – The Morning Invocation (Tuesday, October 28, 2025)
The concluding ritual honors the rising Sun (Usha Arghya), marking the renewal of life cycles. With the first dawn rays, devotees offer prayers for prosperity, fertility, and divine guidance. This act completes the solar cycle by balancing gratitude toward both dusk and dawn — acknowledging life’s perpetual rhythm.
After the offerings, the fast is broken with Prasad distributed among family and community, signifying unity and fulfillment.
Chhath Puja Prasad and Culinary Symbolism
Food during Chhath Puja is regarded as divine nourishment, made in utterly pure conditions devoid of salt, onion, or garlic. The offerings are not mere edibles but metaphors of purity, fertility, and gratitude.
- Thekua – A crisp, golden sweet made from wheat flour, jaggery, and ghee, symbolizing strength and devotion.
- Kheer – A tender preparation of rice, milk, and jaggery shared during Kharna, representing compassion.
- Fruits and Sugarcane – Embody fertility, agricultural abundance, and sweetness of life.
- Coconut and Rice Laddus – Denote purity, auspiciousness, and wholeness.
Each Prasad item reinforces the principle that nature is both provider and nurturer, deserving reverence, not exploitation.
Rules, Rituals, and Sacred Discipline
Chhath Puja is famously stringent — every act, from food preparation to prayer posture, follows divine precision.
Key rules include:
- Observing strict celibacy and vegetarianism during the festivities.
- Cooking only in sanctified spaces using clay or copper utensils.
- Avoiding synthetic products and plastics to protect water sanctity.
- Maintaining mental serenity — anger, gossip, and negativity are shunned to preserve mental purity.
- The Vratis, particularly women, exemplify endurance and devotion, transforming themselves into embodiments of divine grace.
The Central Role of Women
While men also participate, women represent the spiritual nucleus of Chhath Puja. They embody faith, fortitude, and familial devotion — performing arduous fasts with equanimity. Their austere discipline and silent resilience become metaphors for cosmic motherhood, reflecting the endurance of Chhathi Maiya herself.
Women’s collective singing of Chhath Geet — folk hymns passed orally through generations — turns the ghats into sanctuaries of rhythm, poetry, and divine vibration.
Environmental and Scientific Harmony
In modern discourse, Chhath Puja is hailed as a festival of ecological equilibrium. It promotes:
- Natural resource conservation through rituals emphasizing water purity.
- Sustainable lifestyles via biodegradable offerings (banana leaves, clay lamps).
- Natural solar therapy using early morning light to regulate circadian rhythms and immunity.
Through these eco-conscious customs, Chhath Puja merges ancient wisdom with contemporary environmental values — an enduring example of cultural ecology.
Celebrations Across India and the World
While traditionally rooted in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, Chhath Puja now radiates across:
Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Patna, and other metropolises where municipalities arrange special ghats and safai drives.
International communities in Nepal, Fiji, Mauritius, Trinidad, the UK, and the USA, showcasing global diaspora devotion.
Modern celebrations blend organization and ritual — flood-lit riverbanks, community kitchens, eco drives — preserving devotion within modern contexts.
Songs and Devotional Expressions
Chhath Puja resounds with ethereal folk compositions — Chhath Geet — sung in Maithili, Bhojpuri, and Magahi dialects. Popular traditional verses like Kaanch Hi Baans Ke Bahangiya and Uga Hai Suruj Dev evoke the spiritual magnificence of sunrise and the longing for divine union.
These ballads transmit ancestral memory, love, and cosmic gratitude, making music an intrinsic part of ritual transcendence.
Chhath Puja and the Modern Age
In contemporary society, the essence of Chhath Puja remains unblemished by modernization. The festival continues to inspire environmental awareness and self-restraint amidst urban chaos. Governments, NGOs, and community volunteers ensure clean ghats, safe facilities, and eco-friendly decor. Through social media, devotees share live prayers, hymns, and festive greetings, bridging the ancient and digital worlds seamlessly.
In essence, Chhath Puja embodies a timeless philosophy — simplicity as the path to divinity.
Dates and Muhurat Timings for Chhath Puja 2025
According to the Drik Panchang and Hindu calendar, in 2025 the Tithi and rituals are as follows :
Day Ritual Date Time
- Nahay Khay Purification Bath October 25, 2025 Sunrise: 6:28 AM
- Kharna Fasting & Offering October 26, 2025 Sunset: 5:41 PM
- Sandhya Arghya Prayers to Setting Sun October 27, 2025 5:42 PM
- Usha Arghya Morning Arghya & Fast Conclusion October 28, 2025 Sunrise: 6:30 AM; Tithi Ends 7:59 AM
Chhath Puja transcends ritual — it is a philosophy of cosmic connection and gratitude. It teaches that discipline purifies, abstinence strengthens, and reverence sustains. Each wave, diya, and prayer is a dialogue with creation itself.
In an era marked by ecological crises and spiritual distractions, Chhath Puja stands as a beacon of balance — between humanity and nature, science and faith, body and soul. The golden hues of the Sun, mirrored in the devotion of millions, illuminate one eternal truth: life flourishes only when gratitude flows.
When the rivers reflect the flicker of thousands of diyas and chants fill the twilight air, Chhath Puja becomes not just a ritual, but a living symphony of life, purity, and renewal.
