Kamakshi
Chhath Puja — The Most Ancient Sun Festival
Of all Hindu festivals, Chhath Puja is among the most ancient and most demanding. Unlike most festivals celebrated indoors with idol worship, Chhath is observed entirely outdoors — on riverbanks, in ponds, and in open water — in direct communion with the rising and setting Sun. It is a festival of raw, elemental faith.
The Four Days of Chhath
Day 1 — Nahay Khay: The festival begins with a purifying bath in a holy river. Devotees eat only one sattvic meal, usually made with bottle gourd and rice cooked in new earthen pots.
Day 2 — Kharna: A 12-hour fast is observed without water. In the evening, devotees prepare kheer (rice pudding with jaggery) as prasad and distribute it after sunset. From this moment, the 36-hour waterless fast begins.
Day 3 — Sandhya Arghya (Sunset Offering): This is the most visually spectacular day. Thousands of devotees in beautiful sarees and dhotis wade into rivers and ponds at sunset, holding bamboo baskets filled with fruits, sugarcane, and seasonal vegetables. They stand in water offering arghya to the setting Sun, chanting Chhath songs that have been passed down for generations.
Day 4 — Usha Arghya (Sunrise Offering): Before dawn, devotees return to the river for the final sunrise offering, breaking the 36-hour fast only after the first rays of the Sun appear over the water.
Chhath and the Sun God Surya
Surya is the only deity in Hinduism worshipped directly — without an intermediary idol. In Chhath, the Sun itself is the murti. This direct connection to the natural world, to water and sunlight, gives Chhath a quality that is both ancient and deeply ecological.
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Good Morning God Images
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Ganesha
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Chhath Puja 2026?
Chhath Puja 2026 falls on October 26-29, 2026. The four-day festival begins with Nahay Khay on October 26, followed by Kharna on October 27, Sandhya Arghya (sunset offering) on October 28, and Usha Arghya (sunrise offering) and Paran on October 29.
What is Chhath Puja?
Chhath Puja is an ancient Vedic festival dedicated to Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya (the sixth form of Devi Prakriti). It is one of the oldest festivals in Hinduism, with references in the Rigveda. Devotees fast for 36 hours, stand in rivers at sunset and sunrise, and offer arghya (water offering) to the Sun.
Why is Chhath Puja celebrated?
Chhath Puja is performed to thank Surya Devta for sustaining life on earth and to seek blessings for family members, especially children. The Sun is the source of all energy and the destroyer of disease. Worshipping the rising and setting sun on these four days is believed to bring health, prosperity, and longevity.
Where is Chhath Puja celebrated?
Chhath Puja is primarily celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal. With large-scale migration from these states, Chhath is now also celebrated in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and across the Indian diaspora worldwide. It is one of the largest outdoor religious events in India.
What is Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya?
Sandhya Arghya is the evening water offering made to the setting sun on the third day of Chhath. Devotees stand in rivers or ponds at sunset and offer arghya (water, milk, fruits). Usha Arghya is the dawn offering made to the rising sun on the fourth day, completing the 36-hour fast. Both rituals are deeply moving and visually spectacular.