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Chhath festival dates: Chhath Puja is a major festival of faith and folk culture. This great festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Terai areas of Nepal. This year Chhath Puja is starting from 25 October 2025 and will end with Usha Arghya on 28 October 2025. This four-day festival is not only a religious ritual but also a symbol of love for nature, cleanliness and family harmony.

Important dates of Chhath Puja 2025

• 25 October – Nahay-Khay
• 26 October – Kharna
• 27 October – Sandhya Arghya (Offering to the setting sun)
• 28 October – Usha Arghya (offering to the rising sun)
• Nahay-Khay (25 October)

Chhath festival starts with Nahay-Khay. On this day Vrati (women observing fast) take bath in Ganga or any holy river. If river is not available, then bathing and cleaning of the house is done using holy water at home.

Method: On this day, the fasting person consumes satvik food only once. Rock salt is used in food. Traditionally gourd vegetable, gram dal and rice are consumed. Special care is taken of purity and cleanliness while preparing food.

Kharna (26 October)

The second day of Chhath is called Kharna or Lohanda. The 36-hour waterless fast begins from this day.

Method: Vrati keeps fast throughout the day. In the evening, jaggery kheer and ghee coated rotis are made using mango wood on an earthen stove. After worshiping Sun God, the devotees first take Prasad. After the Prasad of Kharna, the devotee sacrifices food and water till offering Surya Arghya the next day.

Evening Arghya (27 October)

The third day is of evening Arghya, when Arghya is offered to the setting sun with water, milk and flowers. Vrati goes to the banks of river or pond carrying thekua, fruits, sugarcane, coconut and seasonal fruits in a bamboo basket. This day is considered to be the most important day of Chhath Mahaparva.

Usha Arghya (28 October)

The festival ends with Usha Arghya. Before sunrise the devotees and family members gather at the same place. After offering Arghya to the first ray of the Sun, the devotees break their fast with raw milk and Prasad, which is called Parana. After this the Prasad is distributed among the families and neighbourhood.

Importance of Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja is important from both religious and scientific points of view. This festival is dedicated to Sun God, who is a symbol of energy, life and health. Worshiping the Sun provides relief from skin diseases and other diseases. Chhathi Maiya is worshiped to protect children and fulfill their wishes.

Chhath festival is a symbol of purity, cleanliness and dedication towards nature. All the ingredients used in it are natural and the devotees adopt a satvik lifestyle. This four-day long festival is not only a religious ritual, but it is also a medium to establish a deep connection between family, society and nature.