Chhath Puja 2025: Date, Timings, Muhurat, Significance, Mythology Story, Rituals, Mantras

• The term “Chhath” means “sixth,” referring to its occurrence on the sixth day of Kartika, and is derived from the Sanskrit word “Shashti”.​
• It is one of the oldest Hindu festivals, mentioned even in the Rigveda and Mahabharata, and focuses on spiritual discipline, gratitude, and connecting with nature.​
• Both the rising and setting sun are worshipped, a unique feature of Chhath Puja.​
• Devotees seek blessings for family prosperity, child well-being, and overall happiness.​

Spiritual and Religious Importance

• Chhath Puja is dedicated to worshiping Surya Dev (Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya (Goddess Shasthi), acknowledging their role in sustaining and nurturing life on Earth.​
• It signifies gratitude for health, prosperity, progeny, and long life, as devotees believe the Sun is the source of all energy and well-being.​
• The festival upholds the importance of self-discipline, purity, honesty, and humility, emphasizing rigorous fasting and abstaining from even water during core rituals.

Rituals and Celebratory Days:

Chhath Puja rituals are highly disciplined and span four days, with each day holding its own unique significance and ceremonial steps focused on purification, fasting, and offerings to Surya Dev (Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya.​

Stepwise Rituals of Chhath Puja

Day 1: Nahay Khay (Purification Day) (25 October – Saturday)

• Devotees take a holy dip in rivers, ponds, or water bodies at sunrise for spiritual and physical purification.​
• Homes are thoroughly cleaned and a simple, sattvic meal (often lauki curry, kaddu bhat, chana dal, and roti) is prepared without onion, garlic, or salt.​
• Only one meal is consumed on this day, marking the start of the discipline for the festival.​

Day 2: Kharna/Lohanda (Fasting Day) (26 October – Sunday)

• A nirjala fast (no water, no food) is observed from sunrise to sunset by devotees (vratis).​
• After sunset, prasad such as kheer (jaggery rice pudding), roti, fruits, and bananas is prepared and offered to Surya Dev before being consumed to end the day’s fast.​
• Vratis then enter a 36-hour fast with neither food nor water.​

Day 3: Sandhya Arghya (Evening Offering) (27 October – Monday)

• Preparations include arranging a Chhath thali (basket) with fruits, sweets (especially thekua), earthen lamps, and prasad for offerings.​
• Devotees and families gather at the riverbank with offerings at sunset, standing in water to offer arghya (sacred water and prayers) to the setting sun, accompanied by folk songs and hymns.​
• Both women and men participate in the rituals, chanting traditional Chhath songs throughout.​

Day 4: Usha Arghya (Morning Offering and Paran)  (28 October – Tuesday)

• Devotees reach the riverbank before sunrise to offer prayers and arghya to the rising sun, standing waist-deep in water.​
• The fast is broken after sunrise, and prasad (mainly thekua, fruits, and kheer) is distributed among family, friends, and neighbors.​
• Many offer prayers for child well-being, family happiness, and fulfillment of wishes.​

Chhath Puja Ritual Essentials

• Purity and discipline are integral: from food preparation to personal conduct.​
• Puja samagri (items) include bamboo baskets, diya/lamp, sugarcane, thekua, fresh fruits, and earthen pots.​
• Rituals are performed on riverbanks or near water bodies to symbolize gratitude for nature’s elements.​

Chhath Puja rituals beautifully blend devotion, discipline, ecological awareness, and family harmony into one of India’s most revered festivals

Cultural Impact and Regional Spread

• Chhath Puja is mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and some areas of Madhya Pradesh and Nepal, but it has spread to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru due to migration.​
• Riverbanks are decorated with lights, flowers, and rangoli, creating a festive environment.​
• The festival emphasizes discipline, cleanliness, humility, and spiritual focus, and it is practiced by both men and women.​

Key Chhath Puja Mantras:

During Chhath Puja, several powerful mantras and folk songs are chanted to honor Surya Dev (Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, with each ritual marked by specific sacred formulas.​

• Surya Arghya Mantra (for offering water to the Sun):
  • ॐ एहि सूर्य सहस्त्रांशो तेजोराशे जगत्पते। अनुकम्पय मां भक्त्या गृहाणार्घ्यं दिवाकरः।
  • Translation: “O Sun God, the thousand-rayed, the radiant one, Lord of the world, kindly accept my worship with devotion.”​​
• Surya Beej Mantra:
  • ॐ ह्रीं सूर्याय नमः
  • “Om Hreem Suryaya Namah”​
• Surya Gayatri/Prayer Mantra:
  • ॐ ह्रीं ह्रीं सूर्याय सहस्रकिरणाय मनोवाञ्छित फलयोग्यं देहि देहि स्वाहा।
  • “Om Hreem Hreem Suryaya Sahasrakiranaya Manovanchhit Phalam Dehi Dehi Swaha”​
• Aditya Hridayam Mantra (for strength and overcoming obstacles):
  • आदिदेव नमस्तुभ्यं प्रसीद मम भास्कर। दिवाकर नमस्तुभ्यं प्रभाकर नमोस्तुते।
  • Translation: “Salutations to Adidev, O Bhaskar, be pleased; Salutations to Divakar, O Prabhakar, I bow to you.”​
• Other Surya Mantras:
  • ॐ मित्राय नमः
  • ॐ रवये नमः
  • ॐ सूर्याय नमः
  • ॐ भानवे नमः
  • ॐ खगाय नमः
  • ॐ पूष्णे नमः
  • ॐ हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः
  • ॐ मरिचये नमः
  • ॐ आदित्याय नमः
  • ॐ सवित्रे नमः
  • ॐ अर्काय नमः
  • ॐ भास्कराय नमः
  • These twelve names are part of the Surya Namaskar sequence and used in various Chhath songs and rituals.​
• Popular Chhathi Maiya Arti & Songs
  • “Jai Chhathi Maiya” and traditional folk songs are sung, invoking local blessings and narrating the benevolence of the goddess.​
  • Typical lyrics include:
    • जय छठी मैया, ऊ जे केरवा जे फरेला खबद से, ओह पर सुगा मंडराए।
    • छठी माई, तोहसे ही बा सबके जिनगी सजनी।

These mantras and chants are central to the spiritual discipline and collective devotion observed during Chhath Puja.

Summary:

Chhath Puja is a major Hindu festival, especially prominent in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Nepal, dedicated to the worship of Surya Dev (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya. Spanning four days, the rituals focus on purification, gratitude, immediate family welfare, and harmony with nature. Devotees observe holy bathing, strict fasting—often without water—and offer arghya (water and prasad) to both the setting and rising sun.​

The festival’s roots are in ancient Vedic traditions, and its mythological stories feature legendary figures like Sita, Draupadi, and Karna, all emphasizing the Sun’s power to grant health, prosperity, and fulfillment of wishes. Chhath promotes discipline, cleanliness, environmental awareness, and community bonding, uniting people on riverbanks for communal prayers and festivities. The vibrant rituals and devotional songs express gratitude to nature and symbolize the timeless connection between humanity and the environment.