Chhath Puja is a four-day Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God, Surya, and Chhathi Maiya, observed mainly in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, as well as in parts of Nepal [1][6]. Devotees, predominantly women, observe a rigorous 36-hour fast without food or water and offer prayers standing in rivers, ponds, and other water bodies at both sunset and sunrise [2][6].
A short answer first
- What it is: A Vedic-era festival thanking the Sun for sustaining life and praying for family well-being [1][6].
- When it is: Held in the Hindu month of Kartik (October–November), starting on the sixth day after Diwali. In 2026, it runs from November 13 to 16 [5][8].
- The core ritual: Devotees stand waist-deep in water to offer arghya (offerings of water and light) to the setting sun on day three and the rising sun on day four [1][6].
- The fast: The most intense phase is a nirjala (waterless) fast lasting about 36 hours, beginning after the Kharna ritual on day two and ending after the sunrise prayer on day four [2][6].
- Where it happens: Primarily in Bihar and the surrounding region, but now observed globally by the Bihari diaspora in countries including the US, UK, Mauritius, and Fiji [11].
The four days, step by step
Chhath is not a single prayer but a sequence of rituals, each with its own rules. The names and practices are passed down orally, primarily through women, and vary slightly by region [6].
Day 1: Nahay Khay. The festival begins with purification. Devotees bathe in a river or pond, clean their homes, and prepare a single pure vegetarian meal. This typically includes bottle gourd (lauki), chana dal, and rice, cooked with care and eaten once before the stricter fasting begins [1][5].
Day 2: Kharna. Devotees fast through the day and break it after sunset with a specific meal: rasiya (jaggery kheer) and roti, often cooked in a new earthen pot over a clay stove [5][8]. Once this meal is eaten, the 36-hour nirjala fast begins. No food, no water, until the sunrise prayer two days later [2].
Day 3: Sandhya Arghya. This is the main evening. Families gather at the ghats, the steps leading down to a river or pond. Offerings of thekua (a crunchy wheat and jaggery sweet), fruits like bananas and sugarcane, and lit lamps are arranged in bamboo baskets. The devotee stands in the water and offers arghya to the setting sun [1][6]. Chhath is unusual among sun festivals because it honors the setting sun as well as the rising one, a recognition that endings are part of the cycle [6].
Day 4: Usha Arghya. Before dawn, families return to the water. As the sun rises, the devotee offers water and milk to the rising sun. After this final prayer, the fast is broken, traditionally with raw milk or ginger-infused water, and prasad is shared with everyone present [1][5].
Why rivers and ponds matter
The choice of location is not incidental. The rituals are performed in water because the Sun and water are both seen as sources of life, and the physical act of standing in a river or pond connects the devotee to nature directly. There are no idols and no temple required; the water, the sky, and the sun are the sacred space [6].
This has practical consequences. In the weeks before Chhath, communities clean and decorate the ghats. Volunteers string lights, families sweep the paths, and bamboo and banana plants are used to create temporary shrines at the water’s edge [1][4]. The festival is explicitly ecological in its traditional form: offerings are natural, clay lamps are used, and the event is tied to the health of local water bodies [10].
Who observes it and how it has spread
The primary observers are married women, though men and unmarried people also take part. The fast is considered one of the most demanding in the Hindu calendar, and the discipline is a central part of its meaning [2][6].
Chhath was once a quiet, region-specific observance. It has since become a global marker of Bihari identity. Hundreds of thousands of migrants return to Bihar for the festival, and those who cannot travel now find organized ghats in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and beyond [4][7]. The diaspora observes it in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Mauritius, and the UAE, among other places [11]. In 2025, the Government of India nominated Chhath Puja for UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, citing its oral transmission, community-led structure, and ecological practices [3][10].
Myths vs facts
| Claim | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Chhath is a festival of idol worship | Myth | There are no idols or central temples; prayers are offered directly to the Sun and Chhathi Maiya at water bodies [6]. |
| The fast is only for women | Myth | While women are the primary observers, men also undertake the fast and participate in rituals [2]. |
| Chhath is a recent or purely regional festival | Myth | It dates to the Vedic period and is now observed globally by the diaspora [1][11]. |
| The fast is 24 hours long | Myth | The nirjala phase lasts about 36 hours, from after Kharna to the sunrise prayer on day four [2]. |
| Only the rising sun is worshipped | Myth | Chhath is distinctive for honoring both the setting and rising sun [6]. |
| The festival has no ecological dimension | Myth | Traditional practices use natural, biodegradable offerings and emphasize care for local water bodies [10]. |
Bottom line
Chhath Puja is a festival of discipline and directness. There is no priest, no idol, and no elaborate temple. The devotee stands in a river at dusk and dawn, offers water to the sun, and fasts without water for 36 hours. The simplicity is the point: the sun sustains life, the water carries the offering, and the community gathers at the ghat to do it together. From the riverbanks of Bihar to organized celebrations in New Jersey and London, the ritual has travelled with the people who keep it.
Disclaimer: This article is for general education only and does not replace professional advice relevant to the topic. If you notice an error or would like to send feedback or corrections, please contact us.
References
[1] Chhath Puja in Bihar: A Cultural Experience Worth Travelling For!
[2] A ‘fasting festival’ for women in India
[3] Chhath Mahaparva
[4] Chhath, Chokha And Champaran Meat: The Reconfiguration Of ‘Bihari’ Image
[5] Chhath Puja 2026: Dates, Traditions, Rituals And Travel Guide
[6] Chhath Puja
[7] Bihar’s Image Reclaimed: Chhath, Champaran Meat & Bihari Pride Rising
[8] Chhath Puja 2026 Full Schedule, Know Important Dates And Religious Significance
[9] ichLinks
[10] Global Celebration of Chhath: Bihari Festival Unites Communities Across Continents
