Chhath Puja 2025 is one of the most spiritually rich and environmentally conscious festivals celebrated across Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Nepal. Dedicated to Lord Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, this ancient Vedic festival is observed to express gratitude and seek blessings for health, wealth, and prosperity.
In 2025, Chhath Puja will be observed from Saturday, October 25 to Tuesday, October 28. This four-day-long festival includes intense fasting, holy bathing, and offerings to the Sun at sunrise and sunset. Each day of the celebration carries deep meaning and ritual significance.
Let’s walk through each day of Chhath Puja 2025 and understand its importance and key timings.
Day 1: Nahay Khay: Saturday, 25 October 2025
The festival begins with Nahay Khay, where devotees purify themselves with a holy dip in rivers or ponds. This day marks the spiritual cleansing of the body and mind. After the bath, a satvik (pure vegetarian) meal is prepared without garlic and onion-usually comprising pumpkin, chana dal, and rice cooked in bronze or earthen pots.
Eating this meal marks the start of the ritual fasting journey, which is carried forward with utmost discipline and devotion.
Day 2: Kharna: Sunday, 26 October 2025
The second day of Chhath is known as Kharna, a day of strict fasting observed from sunrise to sunset without even a sip of water. In the evening, after offering prayers to the Sun, devotees break their fast with a sacred meal known as Kharna prasad. This includes:
- Gur ki kheer (a sweet rice pudding made with jaggery and milk)
- Ghee-roasted chapatis
- Seasonal fruits like bananas
Once this meal is consumed, devotees begin a 36 hour nirjala vrat (fast without water), which continues through the next two major arghya offerings.
Day 3: Sandhya Arghya: Monday, 27 October 2025
Sandhya Arghya, or the evening offering, is one of the most visually and spiritually powerful moments of Chhath Puja. As the sun begins to set, devotees, dressed in traditional attire, proceed to nearby rivers, lakes, or specially created water bodies to perform the evening ritual.
With bamboo baskets filled with fruits, thekua, sugarcane, and diyas (lamps), families gather to offer their devotion to the setting Sun. Devotees stand waist-deep in water, sing traditional Chhath geet (folk songs), and offer arghya a symbolic water offering to the Sun God.
The atmosphere during Sandhya Arghya is surreal-filled with devotion, folk music, and the warm glow of lamps reflecting on the water.
Sunset Time (Estimated): 5:40 PM IST
Day 4: Usha Arghya: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
The final day of Chhath Puja is known as Usha Arghya, where devotees gather again before dawn to offer prayers to the rising Sun. This morning arghya marks the end of the 36 hour fast. Devotees once again enter the water, this time facing the east, as the first rays of the sun touch the horizon.
After completing the sunrise rituals, they break their fast with the blessed prasad, which is shared with neighbors, friends, and the less fortunate.
Sunrise Time (Estimated): 6:30 AM IST
Why Chhath Puja is So Special
Chhath Puja is more than a ritual-it’s a celebration of purity, devotion, and nature. It teaches us:
- Discipline: The 36 hour nirjala vrat is one of the most challenging fasts in Hinduism.
- Gratitude: Devotees offer thanks to Surya Dev for sustaining life and granting health.
- Eco-awareness: All rituals are nature-based, encouraging cleanliness of rivers and surroundings.
- Community bonding: Families and neighbors come together to celebrate with unity and respect.
What You Need for Chhath Puja
If you’re preparing to observe Chhath Puja at home or in a local pond, here’s a quick list of essentials you’ll need:
- Bamboo baskets (soop and daura)
- Seasonal fruits like banana, coconut, and sugarcane
- Homemade thekua (sweet offering)
- Incense sticks, diyas (earthen lamps), and ghee
- New traditional clothes, preferably yellow, orange, or red
- Access to a clean water body or artificial pond
Final Words
Chhath Puja 2025 is a time of deep faith, unwavering devotion, and divine energy. From the simplicity of Nahay Khay to the soul-purifying sunrise of Usha Arghya, each step of the celebration brings families closer to the divine forces of nature and to each other.
Whether you’re celebrating in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, or anywhere around the world, Chhath Puja is a heartfelt connection to your roots and traditions. May this Chhath Puja 2025 bring peace, prosperity, and positivity into your life!