Devotees offering Arghya to the rising Sun during Chhath Puja on the banks of a river in Agra (Photo: Pinterest)
Chhath Puja is a sacred Hindu festival devoted to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya representing gratitude, cleanliness and dedication. It is observed primarily in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and adjacent states with the four-day ceremony consists of fasting, prayer and worship for the setting and rising sun for good health, prosperity and domestic peace.
In 2025, Chhath Puja starts on Saturday, October 25 with Nahay Khaay and ends on Tuesday, October 28 with the Usha Arghya. The order of days is as under:
These four days are a spiritual sojourn of purification, fasting and offering obeisance to the setting and rising sun.
For Agra devotees, Usha Arghya or the morning worship of the rising sun will be performed on Tuesday, October 28, when the sun will rise at 6:24 AM. This last ritual represents thanksgiving and renewal as devotees pray for family prosperity and well-being.
The Sandhya Arghya or the initial evening offering to the west-setting sun, will be on Monday, October 27, when sunset is at 5:38 PM. The auspicious time for offering Arghya starts just before sunset and lasts until the sun's last rays disappear. The next morning, Usha Arghya is offered at sunrise, completing the festival.
Every day of Chhath has profound religious and ritual significance:
The rituals begin before dawn. Devotees take a dip in clean water, set up a bamboo basket or daura filled with fruits, sugarcane and Thekua (a traditional sweet). Offerings are made while chanting the Sun mantra “Ehi Surya Sahasranshon Tejo Rashe Jagatpataye…” The act represents faith, gratitude and renewal of energy.
Paran is the ceremony of breaking the 36-hour fast following the Usha Arghya. The faithful first give Arghya to the rising sun, pray for blessings and then take prasad like Thekua, fruits and jaggery, no fried or salty food is taken during Paran, as the action itself is a show of purity and abstinence.
The Paran for Chhath Puja 2025 will be observed on Tuesday, October 28, soon after dawn. This holy ritual marks the end of the festival and the culmination of a period of fierce devotion, fasting and worship a reflection of faith, discipline and hope for success.
Disclaimer: Timings and rituals are based on traditional Hindu calendars; local observances may slightly vary by region and sunrise-sunset differences.
