Chhath Puja 2025: Rituals, Dates, Timings & Significance

October 27, 2025 Sheetal

What is Chhath Puja?

Chhath Puja is a uniquely reverent Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of the Sun God (Surya Dev) and his sister/complement, Chhathi Maiya. Traditionally celebrated over four consecutive days — especially in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and parts of Nepal — the festival honours sun-energy, nature, purity and self-discipline. Devotees, especially married women, observe strict fasts (often without water), offer arghya (water offerings) to the setting and rising Sun, and pray for the well-being, prosperity and healthy lives of their families.

Key Dates for Chhath Puja 2025

In 2025, Chhath Puja begins on Saturday, 25 October and concludes on Tuesday, 28 October. The breakdown of the four days is as follows:

Day 1 – Nahay-Khay (Holy bath and first sattvik meal) on 25 October.
Day 2 – Kharna (Strict fast and evening prasad) on 26 October.
Day 3 – Sandhya Arghya (evening offering to the setting Sun) on 27 October, when devotees observe a water-less fast and gather at riverbanks/ponds at sunset.
Day 4 – Usha Arghya & Parana (morning offering to the rising Sun and breaking of the fast) on 28 October — marking the culmination of the festival and the resumption of normal eating.
These dates align with the Kartik Shukla Shashthi tithi in the Hindu lunar calendar, falling six days after Diwali in many years.

Timings & Muhurat for 2025

Precise timing is important in Chhath worship because the arghya (offering) must be done at the correct solar cues. The approximate timing for the festival are:

On Day 3, Sandhya Arghya should be offered at sunset (roughly 5:40 pm in many North Indian locations on 27 October).
On Day 4, Usha Arghya (morning offering) should be performed at sunrise (about 6:30 am on 28 October).
Since local sunrise and sunset times vary by city/climate, devotees are advised to check their regional Panchang for exact muhurat.

Rituals & Their Meaning

Here’s how each day unfolds and the symbolism behind the actions:

1. Nahay-Khay (Day 1):

Devotees take a sacred dip in a river or natural water body early in the morning. They then prepare a simple sattvik meal (no onion, garlic, non-vegetarian) and begin the fasting vow.

2. Kharna (Day 2):

A rigorous fast begins — sometimes without even water — and continues until the evening when special offerings like jaggery-kheer, puri and fruits are served as prasad to the Sun God. This ritual marks the preparation for the main arghya.

3. Sandhya Arghya (Day 3):

The most iconic day. Devotees, often standing waist-deep in river/pond water, offer prayers and arghya (water, milk, fruits) to the setting Sun. They sing Devotional songs, recite Vrat Katha, and maintain their fast into the night.

4. Usha Arghya & Parana (Day 4):

At dawn, the rising Sun is greeted with water offerings and prayers. Immediately afterwards the fast is broken (Parana) and the community shares prasad, signalling closure of the vow. The atmosphere is one of exaltation, relief and gratitude.

Significance & Cultural Value

Spiritual Purity: Chhath emphasises self-discipline, abstinence and respect for nature’s cycles.
Sun Worship: The festival venerates the Sun as the ultimate life-giver, reminding us of our dependence on the natural world.
Family & Well-being: By undertaking the vow, devotees pray for family health, children’s future, longevity and prosperity.
Community & Environment: Ghats fill with devotees, songs, floating diyas and rituals; many modern celebrations emphasise cleanliness, eco-friendly offerings and river/pond conservation.

Chhath Puja 2025 Highlights

In many cities, large river-banks and ghats were refurbished for the festival, with volunteer clean-up drives, lighting, safer access and larger participation than past years.
The fast, arghya rituals and collective prayers reached peak momentum on the morning of 28 October as Usha Arghya was offered and devotees concluded the 36-hour+ fast.
Public figures and regional governments extended greetings and emphasised the festival’s cultural unity and social harmony.

Tips for Participants & Observers

Plan to arrive early at the ghat/riverbank, as large crowds gather for evening and morning arghya.
Wear traditional clothes (bright sarees for women, kurta-pyjama or dhoti for men) and carry essentials like a soop (basket) filled with thekua, sugarcane, fruits and offerings.
Use eco-friendly lamps and minimal plastic at the site.
For fast-break (Parana), ensure safe sharing of prasad and clear disposal of packaging.
Even if you do not fully fast, you can observe partial participation: attend arghya, make offerings and join community prayers.

Final Thought

Chhath Puja 2025 is more than a ritual festival — it is an expression of faith, endurance and renewal. With its four-day arc from purification to offering, fasting to gratitude, sunrise to sunset, the festival invites everyone to reflect on life’s cycles and our relationship with nature and family.

As the rising Sun breaks the fast on the morning of 28 October, the air is filled with songs of devotion, lamps floating on water and hearts full of hope. May the blessings of Chhathi Maiya and Surya Dev enrich every home with joy, health and harmony.