The Chhath Mahaparv, celebrated on the Shashthi Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik, will begin on Saturday, October 25, 2025, this time. This four-day festival is celebrated with great devotion and faith throughout North India, especially among the people of Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, as well as the Purbanchalis settled abroad. This festival, dedicated to Sun worship and marked by strict rules, is observed with complete restraint and reverence not only by women but also by men.
Day One: Begins with Nahay Khay
The first day of Chhath Parv is called Nahay Khay. On this day, Vratis (observers of the fast), both women and men, take a bath in holy rivers or ponds and perform prayers. On October 25, the day of Nahay Khay, the Vratis eat simple food. Bottle gourd vegetable and chana dal are prepared for the meal, which is eaten with rice. This food is cooked in pure desi ghee. The process of purifying the body and mind begins with Nahay Khay.
Day Two: Vratis Observe a Nirjala Fast on Kharna
October 26, 2025, Sunday, will be the day of Kharna. On this day, the Vratis fast from morning till evening without consuming any water. In the evening, a puja is performed with purity in the house and prasad is prepared. On this day, roti made of wheat flour and jaggery kheer are prepared as prasad. It is cooked on a clay stove using mango wood. After the puja, this prasad is first offered to Lord Surya, then everyone in the house consumes it as prasad.
Day Three: Evening Arghya Offered to the Setting Sun
The third day is the most special day of Chhath Puja, when Arghya is offered to the setting sun. This time, the Sandhya Arghya will be on Monday, October 27, 2025. On this day, after noon, the Vratis, along with their families and neighbors, reach the ghat with puja items. The bamboo basket contains thekua, rice laddus, coconut, banana, apple, orange, and other fruits. Women carry the daura (basket) on their heads to the ghat. Then, water is offered to the setting sun, and Lord Surya is worshiped.
Day Four: The Festival Concludes with Arghya to the Rising Sun
The last day of Chhath Puja is considered the most important. On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Usha Arghya, i.e., the morning Arghya, will be offered. On this day, the Vratis reach the ghat before sunrise and offer Arghya to the rising sun. After offering the Arghya, all the Vratis complete the puja, and after that, the fast is broken (Paran). At the time of Paran, people break the fast by eating water, fruits, and thekua.
Chhath is a Festival of Sun Worship
Chhath Puja is called the festival of Sun worship. In Hinduism, the Sun is considered a direct deity, who is the giver of life. Along with the worship of the Sun, Chhathi Maiya is also worshiped in this festival, who is considered a symbol of children's happiness and family prosperity. Women observing the Chhath fast do this difficult fast for the long life, happiness, and prosperity of their children.
Strict Traditions are Followed in Chhath
The special thing about Chhath Puja is that there is no room for any kind of leniency or concession in it. Every rule is strictly followed. The Vratis observe the fast with complete purity, righteousness, and dedication. During this time, from cleaning the house to puja material, everything is done according to purity and tradition. Making prasad on a clay stove, offering Arghya with a copper or brass pot, and using bamboo baskets and sup are part of the traditions of Chhath.
Echoes of Traditional Songs
During Chhath, the tunes of traditional Bhojpuri and Maithili songs are heard in every street and neighborhood. These songs are an identity of faith, belief, and culture. Women gather in groups at the ghat and sing traditional Chhath songs, which makes the atmosphere completely spiritual. Cultural events are also organized in many places.
Special Arrangements at the Ghats
Like every year, in 2025 also, keeping in mind the Chhath festival, the Municipal Corporation, administration, and voluntary organizations will jointly arrange special cleanliness, lighting, and security at the ghats. Temporary ghats will be built in big cities like Delhi, Patna, Banaras, Lucknow, Mumbai, so that devotees can easily perform the puja.
This Tradition of Faith is Celebrated at Home and Abroad
Chhath Puja is no longer limited to just Bihar or Uttar Pradesh. Apart from metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Indians settled in Dubai, America, UK, Australia also celebrate this festival with full faith and tradition. Expatriate Indians worship at ponds, swimming pools, or beaches in their respective countries and remain connected to the tradition of their country.
