Explore the Rich Culture of Chhath Puja in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh

Today marks one of the most sacred and vibrant moments of Chhath Puja, the Sandhya Arghya, the evening offering to the setting sun. Across Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, millions of devotees gather along riverbanks, ponds, and ghats to offer prayers to Surya Dev (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, expressing gratitude for life, health, and prosperity. The scene glows with devotion, music, lights, and the essence of India’s timeless cultural heritage.

Chhath Puja is one of India’s most ancient and environmentally conscious festivals, with origins dating back to the Vedic period. It celebrates the Sun God, the eternal source of life, light, and energy. Unlike many other festivals, Chhath stands apart for its simplicity, discipline, and profound connection with nature.

Devotees, known as Vratis, observe rigorous fasting and maintain purity throughout the four-day festival. Each ritual from offering fruits and sugarcane to lighting earthen lamps and using bamboo baskets reflects a deep bond with the Earth and its elements.

1. Nahay Khay (Day 1):
The festival begins with a ritual bath in holy rivers or ponds. Devotees prepare a simple vegetarian meal cooked in ghee, offered first to the deity before consumption, which symbolizes inner and outer purification.

2. Kharna (Day 2):
On this day, devotees observe a strict fast without water, breaking it only after sunset. They prepare kheer (sweet rice pudding) and gur-chawal (rice with jaggery) as offerings to Chhathi Maiya. This sacred meal, later shared as prasad, embodies togetherness and blessings.

3. Sandhya Arghya (Day 3 – Today):
This is the festival’s most spiritually charged moment. As the sun sets, devotees in traditional attire gather on decorated ghats, holding bamboo baskets filled with fruits, sugarcane, thekua, and earthen lamps. They offer arghya (holy water) to the setting sun as thousands of lamps illuminate the riverbanks. The air resonates with Chhath geet, folk songs in Bhojpuri and Maithili, creating an atmosphere of divine peace and devotion.

4. Usha Arghya (Day 4):
The festival concludes with prayers to the rising sun, symbolizing the eternal balance between dawn and dusk of creation and continuity. This final offering completes the cycle of devotion, gratitude, and purification.

In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Chhath Puja transcends religious boundaries. It is a celebration of unity, purity, and community spirit. People from all backgrounds join hands to clean ghats, decorate them with flowers, and assist devotees. This collective devotion reflects the deep-rooted cultural integrity of North India.

The cultural charm of Chhath Puja is beautifully enhanced by traditional Chhath geet, folk songs sung by women that celebrate faith, family, and nature. Passed down through generations, these melodies narrate stories of motherhood, perseverance, and devotion, preserving the emotional and spiritual core of the festival.

Beyond spirituality, Chhath Puja is also a symbol of sustainability. Every ritual offering, from clay lamps to bamboo baskets, is eco-friendly. The emphasis on natural materials, cleanliness, and simplicity embodies an ancient wisdom that aligns perfectly with modern environmental consciousness.

It reminds us of the eternal bond between humans and nature, where devotion meets sustainability, and tradition meets timeless beauty.