Key Highlights
Chhath Puja 2025 will be celebrated from October 25 to October 28, honoring the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya with deep devotion and elaborate rituals spanning four days
The festival is primarily observed in Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal, with growing celebrations across India’s urban centers and diaspora worldwide
Day-wise Rituals and Significance
Day 1: Nahay Khay (October 25) marks the beginning with devotees taking a holy bath in rivers or ponds, followed by cooking and consuming a satvik meal of bottle gourd, rice, and Bengal gram lentils, symbolizing purity and mental detoxification
Day 2: Kharna (October 26) involves strict nirjala fasting (no food or water till sunset) which is broken with jaggery kheer and roti, reflecting discipline and devotion
Day 3: Sandhya Arghya (October 27) is the evening offering to the setting sun made while standing waist-deep in water, presenting bamboo baskets filled with fruits, thekua, sugarcane, and flowers amid communal prayers and folk songs
Day 4: Usha Arghya (October 28) occurs at sunrise, where devotees offer water and prasad to the rising sun, marking the end of the fast followed by sharing prasad with family and community, symbolizing gratitude and blessings
Cultural and Spiritual Essence
The festival is a powerful blend of spirituality, environmental reverence, and community bonding, emphasizing wellness, gratitude, and familial prosperity
Devotees often clean and decorate riverbanks, wear traditional attire, and observe purity to align with cosmic energies ensuring protection and harmony
Sources: Rudraksha Ratna, Paytm Blog, BookMyPoojaOnline, Times Now News