Chhath Puja: Devotion, Rituals & Significance of the Sacred Festival
India maintains a rich heritage of traditional practices while people express their deep religious devotion. Chhath Puja emerges as one of the most deeply spiritual and faith-based festivals among India’s numerous spiritual celebrations. People in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Nepal observe this festival with great devotion to worship Lord Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya who serves as the Sun’s goddess and guardian of children and family well-being.
The celebration of Chhath Puja differs from other Hindu festivals because it takes place in natural settings with simple rituals and discipline on riverbanks and ponds and water bodies.
Meaning and Significance of Chhath Puja
The name ‘Chhath’ originates from the Hindi number six because the festival starts on the sixth day of Shukla Paksha (waxing moon phase) during Kartika month (October–November). The main purpose of this festival involves Sun worship because people consider Surya Devta as the source of Earth’s energy and life.
The main deity Lord Surya receives equal devotion from people as Chhathi Maiya. Devotees believe that Chhathi Maiya grants blessings which bring health and happiness and ensure the well-being of children.
The religious observance of Chhath Puja maintains strict rules which makes it one of the most austere and spiritually pure Hindu festivals.
The Four Days of Rituals
Chhath Puja spans four spiritually significant days, each with its unique customs and deeply symbolic practices. In 2025, Chhath Puja will be observed from Saturday, 25th October to Tuesday, 28th October.
- Day 1 – Nahay Khay (Bath and Eat)
- Devotees start their holy bath in rivers or ponds before preparing traditional food in a pure vegetarian manner on this day. The meal consists of simple dishes that include pumpkin together with chana dal and rice cooked by mango wood earthen stoves. The house becomes pure while the devotee follows a strict path of devotion and cleanliness starting from this day.
- Day 2 – Kharna (Fasting and Evening Prasad)
- The devotee observes a nirjala vrat (fast without water) from sunrise to sunset on this day. The devotees break their fast after sunset prayers by consuming kheer (jaggery and rice mixture) together with roti and fruits. A 36-hour nirjala fast starts after this point and continues until the final day.
- Day 3 – Sandhya Arghya (Evening Offering)
- The Chhath Puja reaches its peak of visual devotion during this day. During the evening hours people from families and communities meet at water bodies and riverbanks. Women bring soop (bamboo baskets) containing seasonal fruits along with sugarcane and thekua (traditional sweets) and diyas (earthen lamps). The devotees perform arghya (water offering) to the setting sun by standing waist-deep in water while praying for family prosperity and well-being.
The environment transforms into a sacred space because people sing traditional songs while performing devotional hymns and floating diyas in the water create a deeply spiritual atmosphere.
- The Chhath Puja reaches its peak of visual devotion during this day. During the evening hours people from families and communities meet at water bodies and riverbanks. Women bring soop (bamboo baskets) containing seasonal fruits along with sugarcane and thekua (traditional sweets) and diyas (earthen lamps). The devotees perform arghya (water offering) to the setting sun by standing waist-deep in water while praying for family prosperity and well-being.
- Day 4 – Usha Arghya (Morning Offering and Conclusion)
- Devotees meet at water bodies before dawn to perform the arghya ritual for the rising sun. The festival reaches its end with this sacred ritual. The distribution of prasad follows the offering ceremony and the fast is ended by breaking it. The Chhath Puja ends with happiness and spiritual contentment.
Cultural and Regional Importance
The main location of Chhath Puja worship exists in Bihar but people in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand and Nepal also observe the festival with great religious fervor. The Bihari and Purvanchali communities living in Delhi and Mumbai and Kolkata and other urban areas now organize large Chhath celebrations because of migration.
The religious celebration of Chhath serves as a cultural expression which defines millions of people. People dedicate their time to clean all roads and ghats and homes before the festival begins. The community shows strong involvement in the festival preparations which begin several weeks in advance.
People in urban areas construct artificial water reservoirs for worship because they lack access to natural rivers.
The Spirit of Devotion and Simplicity
The divine nature of Chhath Puja emerges from the strict observance and pure practice of its rituals. The festival exists without priestly control and temple-based ceremonies. The devotees who observe this festival perform all rituals themselves especially women who receive great respect during this period.
The festival upholds eco-friendly values because all offerings consist of natural and biodegradable materials including fruits leaves and earthen lamps.
Traditional Food Offerings
Some of the most loved and spiritually significant items during Chhath Puja include:
- Thekua – A dry sweet made from wheat flour, jaggery, and ghee
- Kasar – Sweet balls made from rice flour and jaggery
- Seasonal fruits – Bananas, coconut, sugarcane, and apple
- Kheer and roti – Specially prepared on clay stoves with utmost cleanliness
All prasad items are prepared without onion or garlic, maintaining purity.
Conclusion
The religious celebration of Chhath Puja represents a sacred spiritual path which combines devotion with purification and appreciation. The festival represents a profound bond with nature together with cosmic reverence and a wish for health among family members and society.
The rural origins of Chhath Puja have evolved into a unifying force which brings millions of people together across cities and international borders to practice devotion and spiritual discipline. People from all walks of life perform this ritual at both the Ganga River in Patna and temporary ponds in Delhi to show their deep devotion to the Sun God.
The festival reveals the eternal spiritual essence of India through its basic yet profound and sacred nature.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja is a deeply spiritual Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, the guardian goddess of children and family well-being. It involves four days of strict rituals, fasting, and nature-based worship, mostly observed in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal.
Chhath Puja is observed to:
- Thank Surya Devta for sustaining life on Earth
- Seek blessings for health, prosperity, and family harmony
- Honor Chhathi Maiya, believed to protect children and bless fertility
The word ‘Chhath’ means sixth in Hindi. The festival begins on the sixth day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing moon) in the Hindu month of Kartika (October–November).
Chhath Puja is observed over four days:
- Day 1 – Nahay Khay: Ritual bath and consumption of pure vegetarian food
- Day 2 – Kharna: Waterless fast (Nirjala) from sunrise to sunset, broken by kheer and roti at night
- Day 3 – Sandhya Arghya: Offering prayers to the setting sun with fruits, sweets, and lamps at water bodies
- Day 4 – Usha Arghya: Offering to the rising sun, followed by distribution of prasad and breaking the fast
Chhathi Maiya is a revered goddess associated with fertility, childbirth, and family well-being. Devotees believe she blesses couples with children and ensures their good health and safety.
While traditionally celebrated in Bihar, it is also widely observed in:
- Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Nepal
- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and abroad, especially among Purvanchali and Bihari communities
No. Chhath Puja is unique because it is performed by the devotees themselves, usually women, without the involvement of priests or temple-based rituals.
The puja uses natural and eco-friendly offerings:
- Thekua, Kasar, and Kheer (traditional sweets)
- Seasonal fruits like banana, sugarcane, coconut
- Soop (bamboo baskets), earthen lamps, and leaves
- No onions or garlic are used in any prasad
Arghya is the ritual of offering water and prayers to the setting and rising sun while standing in water. It symbolizes gratitude and surrender to nature’s life-giving energy.
The 36-hour Nirjala Vrat (without food or water) is a mark of:
- Self-discipline
- Spiritual purification
- Complete devotion to the deities
It is considered one of the most challenging and rewarding fasts in Hinduism.
In cities, due to limited access to rivers:
- Artificial water tanks and temporary ponds are constructed
- Community members organize group rituals and public spaces are cleaned and decorated
- Despite being far from nature, the spirit of purity and devotion remains intact
Yes. Chhath Puja promotes environmental harmony by:
- Using biodegradable offerings
- Encouraging cleanliness of rivers and surroundings
- Performing rituals in natural settings
Yes. While women predominantly perform the rituals, men can and do participate, especially in offering arghya and maintaining the 36-hour fast.
Popular offerings include:
- Thekua – Wheat flour, jaggery, ghee sweet
- Kasar – Rice flour and jaggery sweet balls
- Kheer – Rice and jaggery pudding
- Roti – Without salt or spice
- Fruits – Banana, coconut, apple, sugarcane
All food is prepared in a sanctified and pure environment.
Chhath Puja is a symbol of:
- Discipline and devotion
- Cultural identity for the Bihari and Purvanchali communities
- A unifying spiritual event that transcends caste, gender, and geography
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