Chhath Puja 2025: Dates, Rituals, and Sacred Offerings — A Complete Guide to the Sun Worship Festival

Chhath Puja, one of the most sacred Hindu festivals, honors Lord Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, the goddess of purity and motherhood. Celebrated with immense devotion in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal, this four-day festival is dedicated to thanking the Sun for sustaining life on Earth and seeking blessings for prosperity, good health, and family well-being.

The festival is renowned for its strict fasting rituals, water offerings (Arghya), and pure vegetarian (sattvic) meals prepared without onion, garlic, or salt.

Chhath Puja 2025 Dates and Schedule

In 2025, Chhath Puja will be observed from Saturday, October 25, to Tuesday, October 28 — aligning with the Kartik Shukla Paksha in the Hindu calendar.

Rituals and Traditions of Chhath Puja 2025

Day 1: Nahay Khay — Bath and Eat

The festival begins with Nahay Khay, symbolizing purification. Devotees take a holy dip in rivers or ponds, clean their homes, and eat a single pure vegetarian meal — often Lauki Bhaat (bottle gourd with rice), Chana Dal, and Tarua (fried vegetable fritters). This marks the preparation for the upcoming fast.

Day 2: Kharna — The Day of Austerity

On the second day, known as Kharna or Lohanda, devotees observe a nirjala vrat (fast without food or water) from sunrise to sunset. In the evening, they prepare sacred Kharna Prasad on clay stoves — typically Rasiyaw (jaggery kheer) and roti or puri. The fast is then broken with the prasad, after which the main 36-hour fast begins, observed until the morning of the fourth day.

Day 3: Sandhya Arghya — Offering to the Setting Sun

This is the main day of Chhath Puja. Families gather along riverbanks or artificial water bodies (ghats) to offer Arghya (water offering) to the setting sun, accompanied by devotional songs.
The prasad prepared for this evening includes:

• Thekua: A signature sweet made with wheat flour, jaggery, and ghee.

• Kasar Laddoo: Sweet rice or wheat flour balls mixed with jaggery.

• Fruits and Sugarcane: Essential offerings that symbolize abundance.

• Coconut and Water Chestnut: Sacred items representing purity and nature’s gifts.

Day 4: Usha Arghya — Morning Offering and Fast Breaking

On the final day, devotees return to the ghat before sunrise to offer Arghya to the rising sun, praying for prosperity and family well-being. After the offering, the 36-hour long fast concludes with Parana, where the devotee consumes a small portion of prasad and water infused with ginger. The prasad is then distributed among friends and neighbors, symbolizing unity and gratitude.

Spiritual and Cultural Significance

Chhath Puja is not merely a festival — it’s a testament to devotion, discipline, and environmental reverence.

• Worship of Nature: The Sun and water — sources of life and energy — are worshipped with humility and gratitude.

• Self-Purification: The strict fasts represent self-control and spiritual cleansing.

• Community Harmony: People from all backgrounds come together at the ghats, reflecting unity and equality.

• Family Welfare: The rituals are primarily performed for the health and longevity of children and family members.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When will Chhath Puja be celebrated in 2025?

Chhath Puja 2025 will be observed from October 25 (Saturday) to October 28 (Tuesday), spanning four days of rituals and fasting.

2. What are the main rituals of Chhath Puja?

The main rituals include Nahay Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya, and Usha Arghya, involving purification, fasting, and water offerings to the Sun God.

3. Why is Chhath Puja celebrated?

The festival is dedicated to Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya to express gratitude for life, energy, and prosperity, and to seek blessings for family health and well-being.

4. What food is prepared during Chhath Puja?

Devotees prepare Thekua, Rasiyaw (jaggery kheer), fruits, sugarcane, and other sattvic (pure vegetarian) dishes without onion, garlic, or salt.

5. Where is Chhath Puja celebrated most prominently?

The festival is primarily celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and the Terai regions of Nepal, with growing participation across India and abroad.