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Mark Your Calendar: Chhath Puja 2025 Dates, Rituals & Spiritual Journey
Date 29 September 2025 Reading time: 7-10 mins
The air hums with devotional songs as families gather along riverbanks, their silhouettes glowing against the dawn and dusk skies, offering prayers to the sun. Chhath Puja, a deeply spiritual Hindu festival, weaves together nature, faith, and community in a four-day celebration unlike any other. For those eager to mark their calendars, knowing when Chhath Puja falls is the first step to embracing this sacred tradition.
Whether you’re wondering when Chhath Puja is this year or seeking a deeper understanding of its practices, this guide will illuminate the dates, rituals, and significance of this timeless celebration.
What is Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja honours Surya Dev, the Sun God, and Chhathi Maiya, a protective deity tied to family well-being. Spanning four days, devotees undertake rigorous fasts and offer prayers at water bodies, thanking the sun for its life-giving energy.
For those curious about when Chhath Puja is celebrated, it aligns with the sixth and seventh days of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik, typically in October or November.
Historical and Cultural Background
This ancient festival traces its roots to Vedic times, with hymns in the Rigveda praising the sun’s power. Legends also tie it to the Mahabharata, where Draupadi performed similar rituals for the Pandavas’ prosperity.
Over centuries, Chhath has grown into a cultural cornerstone, especially in eastern India, fostering unity and preserving traditions.
Importance of the Sun God (Surya Dev) and Chhathi Maiya
Surya Dev embodies life, light, and energy, while Chhathi Maiya safeguards children and families. Together, they highlight humanity’s dependence on nature.
The significance of Chhath Puja lies in this dual reverence, blending gratitude with a plea for health and harmony.
Chhath Puja 2025 Dates and Schedule
Effective planning begins with knowing when Chhath Puja takes place. In 2025, the festival unfolds over four meticulously observed days.
Overview of the Four-Day Festival
This celebration is a progression of rituals, from cleansing to fasting to offerings, culminating in a 36-hour waterless fast. Each day builds toward a deeper connection with the divine and the natural world.
Chhath Puja 2025 Dates
Here’s when Chhath Puja will unfold in 2025, based on the Kartik lunar calendar:
Day 1 – Nahay Khay [Saturday, October 25, 2025]
The festival begins with purification through a sacred dip and simple, sattvic meals.
Day 2 – Kharna [Sunday, October 26, 2025]
A rigorous, waterless fast concludes at sunset with offerings of kheer and puris.
Day 3 – Sandhya Arghya (Evening Offering) [Monday, October 27, 2025]
Devotees present evening prayers to the setting sun, offering thekua, fruits, and sugarcane.
Day 4 – Usha Arghya (Morning Offering) [Tuesday, October 28, 2025]
Pre-dawn rituals honour the rising sun; the fast is broken thereafter with shared prasad.
Rituals and Practices of Each Day
The rituals of Chhath Puja are both demanding and beautiful, reflecting a profound commitment to faith.
Day 1 – Nahay Khay
Rituals Performed
Devotees take a holy dip in a river or pond, cleanse their homes, and partake of a simple meal of rice, chana dal, and pumpkin seasoned with rock salt.
Significance of Purification
This act of purification readies body and spirit for the days of devotion ahead.
Day 2 – Kharna
Observing the Day-long Fast
A strict fast dominates the day, broken only after sunset with prasad like kheer and puris.
Preparation and Offering of Kheer
Prepared on an earthen stove, this offering signals the start of the Nirjala Vrat—a waterless fast lasting until the festival’s end. It’s a test of endurance and devotion.
Day 3 – Sandhya Arghya
Sunset Rituals and Offerings
Devotees wade into water bodies, offering thekua, fruits, and sugarcane to the setting sun. The scene is magical—diyas flicker on the water as songs fill the air.
Community Gatherings at Water Bodies
This day unites thousands in shared reverence, a testament to Chhath’s communal spirit.
Day 4 – Usha Arghya
Pre-Dawn Rituals
Before dawn, devotees return to offer arghya to the rising sun, their baskets brimming with gratitude.
Final Offerings to the Rising Sun
These offerings welcome the new day and conclude the fast.
Conclusion of the Fast and Celebrations
Known as Paran, the fast-breaking brings joy, with prasad shared among families and blessings exchanged.
Symbolism and Spiritual Significance
Chhath Puja transcends ritual—it’s a celebration of life’s interconnectedness.
Role of Nature Worship in Chhath
Chhath Puja reflects deep reverence for the sun as a source of life and water as a symbol of purification. Devotees offer arghya while standing in rivers or ponds at sunrise and sunset, expressing gratitude for the elements that sustain crops, cleanse the body, and uplift the spirit - echoing the festival’s agrarian roots.
Spiritual Benefits and Beliefs
The significance of Chhath Puja is most evident in its promise of purification, well-being, and divine blessings. Practitioners believe that sincere worship draws cosmic energy, cleanses accumulated karmic impurities, and ushers in prosperity and good health.
The Power of Devotion and Discipline
Chhath calls for intense discipline through strict fasting, unwavering vows, and constant prayer, nurturing inner strength. Community gatherings, devotional songs, and quiet reflection create a focused, serene mindset. In return, devotees find spiritual peace, believing their dedication draws divine grace.
Regional Variations and Celebrations Across India
While the rituals of Chhath Puja remain consistent, regional flavours add diversity.
Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
In Bihar, the festival’s origin, and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, riverbanks burst into colour and song. Devotees gather at dawn and dusk to sing folk hymns, offer arghya to the sun, and perform rituals that foster spiritual uplift and community harmony.
Jharkhand and West Bengal
In Jharkhand, families unite in preparing offerings, from crafting soop baskets to making thekua, highlighting shared devotion. In West Bengal, regional traditions blend in with Bengali folk music and artfully decorated altars, reflecting local culture.
Celebrations Among Indian Diaspora Worldwide
Across the globe, from North America to Australia, Chhath Puja is reimagined with temple tanks, public ponds, or inflatable pools, preserving tradition in new lands.
Preparations and Safety Tips
Getting ready for when Chhath Puja arrives involves both practical and mindful steps.
Cleaning and Preparing Ritual Items
Begin by purifying your home and puja area. Gather essential items—handwoven soops, ornate dalas, clay lamps (diyas), and offerings like thekua (sweet wheat biscuits), seasonal fruits, and sugarcane.
Observing the Fast Safely
The Nirjala Vrat, abstaining from both food and water, demands caution. Consult your physician in advance, hydrate thoroughly in the days preceding the fast, and schedule short rest breaks between rites to maintain energy and well-being.
Environmental Considerations for Water Offerings
Honour Chhath’s eco-conscious roots by choosing biodegradable materials for your offerings. After the final arghya, collect any remnants, flowers, leaves, candles, and dispose of them responsibly, preserving the sanctity of the river or pond.
Summary of Key Rituals and Dates
From October 25 to 28, the rituals of Chhath Puja unfold in four principal stages:
- Nahay Khay (Oct 25): A sacred river bath followed by the first satvik (pure vegetarian) meal.
- Kharna (Oct 26): Fasting ends at dusk with kheer and thekua, beginning the Nirjala Vrat.
- Sandhya Arghya (Oct 27): Offerings made to the setting sun with devotional prayers.
- Usha Arghya (Oct 28): Rituals conclude at sunrise with offerings to the rising sun, expressing devotion and gratitude.
Chhath Puja’s Relevance in Modern Times
In a fast-moving world, when Chhath Puja arrives, it offers a pause, a chance to reconnect with nature, community, and timeless values of devotion. It reconnects us with nature through sun veneration, with our communities through shared rituals, and with timeless values of gratitude, discipline, and familial love.
Embracing the Spirit of Chhath in 2025
Now that you know when Chhath Puja is this year and understand its deeper meaning, you can approach this sacred festival with greater reverence and joy.
As you prepare your outfit for this special occasion, Mohey offers beautiful options that honour the spiritual significance of this ancient celebration while keeping you comfortable through all the rituals.
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