Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja, four-day Hindu solar festival celebrated primarily in the northern Indian states Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, in certain regions of Nepal, and by many among the global Indian diaspora. The celebrations during Chhath Puja, or simply Chhath, honor the life-sustaining force of the Sun (Sanskrit: surya). Central to the festival are women who observe a rigorous 36-hour nirjala vrat—a fast without water or food that continues until the final day.

Chhath Puja is celebrated twice a year during the Hindu calendar months Chaitra (March–April in the Gregorian calendar) and Karttika (October–November). The primary observance of Chhath is on the sixth day (called Shashthi in Sanskrit) of Karttika, which typically falls six days after Diwali (the Hindu festival of lights).

History

Hinduism has a long history of incorporating the Sun into religious rituals and practices. Worship of Surya, the Sun god, is mentioned prominently in the Vedas. The daily dawn and dusk (sandhya) rituals, which some still perform daily, offer worship to the Sun. Although Sun worship in Hinduism is not as common as it once was as other deities have come to the fore, Vedic mantras honoring the Sun, such as the Gayatri mantra, are still important parts of Hindu practice. Sun worship is also central to the wintertime holiday Makar Sankranti.

Discover how ordinary objects work, and expand your understanding of the familiar.

SIGN UP

" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">

Thank you for signing up!"

Back to homepage

By clicking "Sign Up", you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

The origins of Sun worship can be traced to hymns from the Rig Veda that revere the Sun as a visible deity—one who sustains life and cosmic order—as opposed to a more imaginary and benevolent deity. The ritual of offering arghya, or water libations, directly to the setting and rising Sun without murtis (sacred images or depictions of a deity) or priests reflects this Vedic tradition.

Chhath Puja was originally celebrated by people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India and the Madhesi community in Nepal. An oral narrative recounts the origin of Chhath Puja with the tale of King Priyavrata (a son of Manu), whose stillborn son was brought to life by Chhathi Maiya’s grace.

The festival finds its mention in two ancient Indian epics: the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. In the Ramayana, Sita (the consort of the god Rama) performed Chhath vrata (Sanskrit: “vow”) to pray for motherhood, strictly following rituals. She was later blessed with twins. In the Mahabharata, Kunti (the mother of the Pandavas) and Draupadi (the wife of the Pandavas) observed it after a narrow escape from a burning palace made of lac. Additionally, Karna, a warrior in the Mahabharata and a son of Surya, worshipped the Sun through this ritual and was bestowed with exceptional strength and generosity. Inspired by Karna’s devotion, many Hindus similarly revere the Sun.

Key deities

At the heart of Chhath Puja lie two central deities: Surya (the Sun god) and Chhathi Maiya (maiya meaning “mother”). While the practices involve ancient rituals and traditions, the gods and goddesses venerated during Chhath Puja reflect a synthesis of natural elements such as solar worship and maternal protectorship.

Explore Britannica Premium!

The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.

SUBSCRIBE

Surya is revered not just as a celestial force but as a giver of life, health, and energy and as a source of healing. It is popularly believed that skin diseases such as leprosy can be alleviated by earnest participation in the Chhath rituals. Devotees worship the Sun directly by offering many traditional items at sunrise and sunset, emphasizing the god’s role in ushering in the beginning and the end of the daily cycle.

During Chhath Puja devotees feel emotionally close to Chhathi Maiya (also called Chhath Mata or Chhathi Mai). Perceived as a maternal figure, she is a protective goddess who guards children, ensures fertility and prosperity, and grants long life. Devotees regard the goddess as a manifestation of Ushas, the Vedic goddess of dawn. Chhathi Maiya’s mythological associations are numerous but diffuse. In some traditions, Chhathi Maiya is linked to Shashthi, who is the wife of Skanda (Kartikeya) and also revered as a protector of children. However, textual and calendrical evidence shows that Skandashashthi (a festival honoring Shashthi) and Chhath Puja are distinct: The former occurs during the dark half (waning moon fortnight) of the month Chaitra, whereas the latter is celebrated during the light halves (waxing moon fortnight) of Chaitra and Karttika. Chhathi Maiya is unique, and, while the goddess is regarded as a manifestation of the dawn goddess Ushas, she is also firmly embedded in folk devotional practices, which is particularly resonant in egalitarian communities and rural regions.

An intriguing feature of Surya and Chhathi Maiya is their aniconic representation. During most Hindu festivals murtis of deities are worshipped. During Chhath Puja, however, worship takes place without murtis, temples, or priests.

Rituals

The celebration spans four days, and devotees participate in rituals including fasting, bathing in holy water, and making offerings to the setting and the rising Sun. Historically, women have played a central role in the festivities, fasting and performing all the associated rituals. In modern times, men have also observed these practices.

• Nahay Khay (“bathe and eat”): Devotees begin the first day of the Chhath Puja by taking a bath in rivers. Traditionally, these baths were taken in rivers considered holy in Hinduism, such as the Ganges or the Yamuna. In the present day, devotees bathe in any river or pond. The sacred water is then brought home to prepare the day’s first ritual meal, which is cooked in the devotee’s kitchen on clay stoves (chulhas) with mango wood as fuel. Only satvik food (satvik meaning “pure”; vegetarian meals prepared without onion, garlic, or processed ingredients) is allowed, and any cooked food from stores and restaurants is strictly avoided during the festival. A day before Nahay Khay, many devotees observe a preparatory vow to consume only satvik food.
• Kharna (“purification”): The second day is known as Lohanda or Kharna, which involves a daylong fast ending at sunset. After offering a simple meal to Surya, devotees break their fast with kheer (rice pudding) made from rice, jaggery, and milk, along with chapatis (unleavened flatbread of India) and bananas, which are then distributed as prasada (food and water offered to a deity during worship) to family members. These items are prepared in copper or earthen vessels and traditionally served on banana leaves. This meal also marks the beginning of the 36-hour nirjala vrat—a fast without water or food that continues until the morning ritual on the final day. The devotees who observe this fast are called vratis.
• Sandhya Arghya (“evening offerings”): The third day is dedicated to the setting Sun. This is often regarded as the most demanding day of the ritual sequence. Devotees, while still fasting, proceed to local rivers or ponds to make offerings and libations of water and milk, standing waist-deep in water with winnowing baskets (called soops) filled with sacred items. These items include thekua (sweet biscuit made of wheat), bhuswa (dessert made of rice flour and jaggery), khaja (sweet made of layered, deep-fried dough), seasonal fruits, sugarcane, and turmeric roots. At the river bank, devotees prepare ritual designs with cow dung and holy water to depict the cosmos. They set up koshi lamps, typically elephant-shaped clay pots fitted with 21 oil lamps, surrounded by 14 smaller cups containing sprouted grains and fruits. These are placed beneath a canopy formed by five stalks of sugarcane, representing the five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and sky. Following the evening arghya—libations of water and milk—devotees stay awake all night, either at the river bank or at home, maintaining ritual silence or engaging in low-voiced chants and storytelling sessions about Chhathi Maiya.
• Usha Arghya (“morning offerings”): The fourth and final day is dedicated to the rising Sun, which begins well before dawn, often about 4:00 am. Devotees return to the river banks to conclude their ritual cycle by offering arghya to the morning Sun. This marks the culmination of the 36-hour fast, after which the devotees consume prasada. One of the most important symbolic moments is the act of blessing younger women at the river bank. The ritual, called Khoichh, involves elder women distributing prasada—often in a clay pot filled with thekua, bhuswa, and sprouted grains—to their juniors as blessings for health, fertility, and marital happiness.

Festivities

During both Sandhya and Usha Arghya, devotees wear freshly washed garments and remain barefoot. Usually male members of the family carry the soops filled with offerings, although women may take on the task when required. Other rituals performed at the banks include women smearing red or orange vermillion (sindoor) from the nose to the forehead. This is symbolic of marital prosperity and the well-being of the husband and family. Devotees also float earthen lamps on river water to carry their prayers and to honor the divine light that sustains life. After the Usha Arghya, the devotees break their fast. Offerings are shared with family, friends, and neighbors, reinforcing both the spiritual merit of the fast and the communal spirit of the occasion.

According to some observers, the festival’s ecological practices—including the use of biodegradable materials such as fruits, flowers, clay lamps, and food items—have helped it remain one of the most environmentally rooted festivals of India.