| Event Detail | Date & Time |
|---|---|
| Main Chhath Puja Date | Monday, October 27, 2025 |
| Shashti Tithi Begins | Oct 27, 2025, at 06:04 AM |
| Shashti Tithi Ends | Oct 28, 2025, at 07:59 AM |
| Sunrise (Arghya Day) | 06:42 AM |
| Sunset (Arghya Day) | 06:05 PM |
Who is Chhathi Maiya? The Origin of the Ritual
According to the Chhath Vrat Katha, Chhathi Maiya is the sister of the Sun God and the daughter of God Devasena. She represents the sixth part of nature’s primal tendency, which is why she is called Shashthi. Devotees believe that worshipping her during the Kartik Shukla Shashti ensures prosperity and the fulfillment of the desire for children.
Historical texts also link this festival to the Ramayana era, where Lord Rama and Mata Sita performed Sun worship upon their return to Ayodhya to establish a prosperous reign.
The Four-Day Ritual Journey
Chhath Puja is not just a one-day event; it is a four-day spiritual journey involving strict discipline and purity.
Day 1: Nahay-Khay (Oct 24)
The festival begins with Nahay-Khay. Devotees bathe in holy water, wear new clothes, and consume a simple vegetarian meal—traditionally bottle gourd (lauki) curry, rice, and dal. This meal is prepared with extreme purity, and the family eats only after the devotee has finished.
Day 2: Kharna (Oct 25)
On Kharna, devotees observe a day-long fast without water. In the evening, they break their fast with Rasiya (kheer made with jaggery and rice) and rotis. No salt or sugar is used in this prasad, only pure jaggery.
Day 3: Sandhya Arghya (Oct 26-27)
This is the main day of the festival. Devotees prepare Thekua, a special prasad made entirely in pure ghee using mango wood as fuel. In the evening, they carry bamboo baskets (daura) filled with fruits, sugarcane, and thekua to the riverbank to offer Arghya to the setting sun.
Day 4: Usha Arghya (Oct 28)
On the final day, devotees return to the riverbank before dawn to offer Arghya to the rising sun. This marks the successful completion of the fast. After the morning prayers and havan, the prasad is distributed among friends and family.
The Importance of Thekua and Bamboo Baskets
Preparation of the Supa and Daura (bamboo baskets) is a ritual in itself. Thekua is the most significant prasad of Chhath; it is considered the “heart” of the offering. Along with rice laddus, these items are arranged beautifully with seasonal fruits and sugarcane, symbolizing a harvest offering to the Sun God for his life-sustaining energy.
Conclusion
Chhath Puja 2025 is a beautiful reminder of our connection to nature and the universe. It is a festival where the setting sun is worshipped with as much devotion as the rising sun, teaching us the cycle of life. In 2026, as you observe these rituals, may Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya fill your home with health, happiness, and peace.
