Chhath Puja 2025: Date, History, Rituals & Significance

In India, many festivals are celebrated with joy, showing the country’s rich culture and traditions.

Chhath Puja, also called Surya Shashti or Dala Puja, is an old Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God (Surya) and his wife, Usha, also known as Chhathi Maiya. People celebrate it to thank the Sun God for giving life and blessings on Earth. The festival is especially important in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and it is also observed in some parts of Nepal.

Apart from the main Chhath Puja, there is another version called Chaiti Chhath, celebrated in the month of Chaitra. This marks the start of the new harvest season and is also devoted to the Sun God with the same devotion and energy.

History of Chhath Puja (Pratihar Sashthi/Surya Sashthi)

According to folklore, King Priyavrata was sad because he had no offspring. To resolve this, a Yagya was performed by Kashyapa, and soon after that, a son was born to the King’s wife, Malini. However, the baby was not alive, after which they were heartbroken and started praying to Mata Shashthi. Later, Mata Shashthi emerged in the sky and endowed the lifeless child in Malini’s hand, so that he come back to life. The King was highly grateful for her blessings, so he started glorifying the Goddess Shashthi Devi. After this happened, Chhat Puja became prevalent as it was believed that Chhathi Maiya or Mata Shashthi would guard their child and endow all the childless parents.

Relevance in Ramayan: When Rama and Sita returned to Ayodhya from exile, people celebrated Diwali or Deepawali. After six days of Diwali, Ramarajya (Kingdom of Rama) was established. On such a promising day, Rama and Sita kept a fast, and subsequently, Sita performed Chhat Puja, worshipping Lord Surya to seek his blessings. As a result, they were blessed with Luva and Kusha as sons.

Relevance in Mahabharata: Chhath has been cited in the Mahabharata, too. Kunti performed Chhath Puja, and as a result, her son Karna was born. Draupadi is also said to have performed Chhat Puja for the Pandavas to succeed in the Kurukshetra War.

Importance and Significance of Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja has major significance to the people of Bihar. According to Vedic astrology, Chhathi Maiya preserves and endows longevity to the children, therefore this festival is done majorly by mothers for the healthiness and wealth of their children. The Sun is believed to be the source of healing and it aids in the cure of diverse kinds of diseases. Therefore, Chhath Puja serves as an important occasion to thank Lord Surya for liveliness and for supporting them and their family’s life on Earth. Performing Chhat Puja is believed to remove all the burdens of life, and attract abundance and fortune in their life.

Chhath Puja Mahurat- Date And Timing

Chhath Puja is one of the most spiritual festivals of India, mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal. Dedicated to Surya Dev (Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, this festival is observed with strict rituals, fasting, and offerings to the setting and rising sun.In 2025 Chhath Puja falls on 30 October.

Celebrating Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja is a holy festival in India celebrated by both women and men. They fast, take a holy bath in a river or any water pool, and offer traditional bhog to the Lord Sun. Beneath are the day-by-day details for you to celebrate Chhath.

Chhath Puja lasts for four days:

Day 1 – Nahay Khay (Bath & Eat)

• Devotees take a holy dip in a river or pond.
• Food is cooked in a purified kitchen without onion or garlic.

Day 2 – Kharna (Fasting & Prasad)

• A day-long fast is observed without water.
• In the evening, devotees prepare jaggery kheer, roti, and fruits as prasad.

Day 3 – Sandhya Arghya (Evening Offerings)

• Devotees gather at riverbanks and offer arghya to the setting sun.
• Women dress in traditional sarees and carry soop (bamboo baskets) filled with fruits and thekua.

Day 4 – Usha Arghya (Morning Offerings)

• Offerings are made to the rising sun.
• After prayers, the fast is broken and prasad is distributed.

Chhath Puja Rituals & Traditions

• Fasting: Devotees fast for 36 hours, some without even water.
• Prasad: Thekua (a sweet made of wheat flour, jaggery, and ghee) is the main prasad.
• Ghats: Devotees gather near rivers, ponds, or artificial water tanks.
• Dress: Women wear sarees (often yellow, red, or orange) and men wear dhoti-kurta.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chhath Puja

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Sanya Sharma

Sanya Sharma is a postgraduate in Geography and currently pursuing an MBA in Travel and Tourism Management. She is passionate about tourism development, cultural exploration, destination branding and creating meaningful travel experiences with a focus on responsible tourism through research and storytelling.