Chaiti Chhath & Chhath Puja 2025 Celebration: Calendar, History & Rituals
In India, several festivals are celebrated with great warmth and enthusiasm, showcasing its rich culture and traditional diversity. Chhath Puja, also known as Surya Shashti or Dala Puja, is a four-day ancient Hindu festival devoted to the God Sun (Surya) and his wife (Usha), known as Chhathi Maiya. It is celebrated to thank God for showering them with blessings in their life on Earth. It is significant in some parts of India, like Bihar, Jharkhand and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. It is also celebrated in some parts of Nepal. In addition to the main Chhath Puja, Chaitra Chhath or Chaiti Chhath, occurs in the month of Chaitra and is also celebrated with similar fervour, marking the arrival of the new harvest season and paying homage to the Sun God.
What is Chaitra Chhath?
Chaiti Chhath is a four-day Hindu festival celebrated in Chaitra (March-April). It is also known as Chota Chhath or Yamuna Chhath.
How it’s celebrated:
- The festival begins with Nahay-Khay, during which devotees bathe in the Ganges and partake in a single meal.
- The second day is known as Kharna, Lohanda, or Barauna, a day when women observe a fast.
- The festival concludes with Usha Arghya, an offering made to the sun god at sunrise.
When Chaiti Chhath celebrated in 2025:
Chaiti Chhath festival is celebrated a few days after Holi and holds great significance in Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Madhya Pradesh. In some areas of northern India, particularly the Braj region, it is also referred to as Yamuna Chhath. The festival is dedicated to the Sun God (Surya Dev) and Chhathi Devi, also known as Maiya (Mother).
- Chaiti Chhath Festival Date: Tue, 1 April 2025 to Fri, 4 April 2025
- Event Length: 4 Day
- Type: Chhath
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
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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
There is no fixed date or time for Chhath Puja as the date keeps changing every year. However, according to the Hindu Calendar, Chhath Puja is observed after a week of Diwali on the 6th day of the month “Kartik”. It descends in October or November. This year Chhath Puja will mark its beginning on the 25th of October and will end on the 29th of October. However, the main celebration will be observed on the 27th of October. The Shashthi Tithi will begin at 6:00 am on the 27th of October and will end at 8:00 am on the 28th of October.
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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.
Celebration Over 4 Days
1. Nahai Khay (25th October 2025)
This marks the start of the festival. Nahai Khay means “to bath and eat”. On the first day of Chhath Puja, devotees keep fast (vrat) and then take a holy bath in a river or any water body. After the bath, devotees cleanse their houses, surroundings and pathways thoroughly. They can consume only one meal consisting of pure and satvik food, such as Lauka Bhaat, Kheer, Puri, Chana dal, Thekua, and Khonda. The food is believed to protect the mind from the idea of revenge.
2. Kharna or Lohanda (26th October 2025)
On the second day, the devotees observe Nirjala vrat, which is to fast without a single drop of water and food from sunrise to sunset. In the evening, gur (jaggery) ki kheer called Rasiaav paired with roti and fruits are offered to God first and then eaten as prasad.
3. Sandhya Arghya (27th October 2025)
The third day is the most significant day of Chhath Puja. On this day, the devotees spend their daytime preparing bhog (offerings) at home, often consisting of bamboo baskets full of fruits, thekua, and rice laddoos. They keep the fast throughout the day and then go to the bank of a river or any water body during sunset to offer Arghya to the God Surya.
During Arghya, Gangajal is offered to God Sun and Chhathi Maiya along with the prepared bhog. After offering, Chhath songs are sung and the Vrat Katha is read. After returning home, the ritual of “Kosi Bharai” is performed, wherein a mandap (Canopy) of 6 to 7 sugarcanes is created by devotees and underneath that, 12 to 24 diya lamps are illuminated, and various fruits along with thekua are offered. The fast continues throughout the next day until morning.
4. Pratahkali Arghya (29th October 2025)
On the fourth and last day of Chhath Puja, Arghya is offered to the rising sun, and prayers are made to Surya and Chhathi Maiya. After worshipping God, devotees partake in the Parana Rite, in which they break their 36-hour-long fast with a small amount of prasad and water. Later, the prasad is distributed among the people. After Puja, it is essential to wear clothes that are turmeric yellow.
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Chhath Puja is not just a Hindu Festival; it holds cultural and mythological significance to the people of Bihar. Now that you are aware of how Chhath Puja is celebrated, its significance, and its history, plan a trip to Bihar now and witness live Chhath Puja on the ghats of rivers for a memorable experience!
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Frequently Asked Questions About Chhath Puja
Why is Chhath Puja celebrated in Bihar?
Chhath Puja is celebrated in Bihar to worship Lord Sun (Surya) and his wife Chhathi Maiya (Usha) and thank them for all the blessings they have showered on one’s life. It is not just a festival; Chhath Puja holds mythological and cultural significance to the people of Bihar.
What is the Chhath Puja story?
The story of Chhath Puja traces back to ancient times. King Priyavrata had no child, therefore, he performed a Yagya and later the child was born to the King’s wife. However, the child was born lifeless. Both the King and his wife prayed to Chhathi Maiya and later she appeared and blessed the lifeless child. And miraculously, the child became alive. Since then, Chhath Puja has been celebrated throughout India and some other parts of the world.
When is Chhath Mahaparva?
This year Chhath Mahaparva will be celebrated on Monday, 27th of October 2025.
For how many days is Chhath Puja celebrated?
Chhath Puja is celebrated for four days. It starts with Kartik Shukla Chaturthi and ends with Kartik Shukla Saptami.
How to celebrate Chhath Puja?
One can celebrate Chhath Puja by taking a holy bath, fasting and offering Arghya to the rising and setting Sun. Sing Chhath songs and distribute Prasad to others. Some devotees also perform a march as they head towards the riverbanks.
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