Chhath Puja, the four-day festival dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, Surya Dev, and Chhathi Maiya, has reached its most significant stage on Sunday, as devotees prepared to offer the first Arghya, known as Sandhya Arghya, to the setting Sun. The festival, marked by rigorous fasting, prayers and traditional rituals, will conclude on Monday morning with Usha Arghya, offered to the rising Sun.
Devotees across the country are observing the festival with deep faith and devotion, undertaking a challenging 36-hour Nirjala fast without consuming food or water. The celebrations began on November 13 with Nahay Khay, followed by Kharna on November 14.
During Kharna, devotees observed a day of strict purity and discipline before preparing traditional prasad, including rasiya, kheer and puris. The offerings were cooked on clay stoves fuelled by mango wood, following age-old customs. Devotees consumed the prasad in the evening after performing the prescribed rituals, marking the beginning of the 36-hour waterless fast.
In several households, special prayers were organised in separate and secluded rooms in keeping with Chhath traditions. Devotees who had taken religious vows also began fulfilling them by performing prostrations along the routes from their homes to the ghats as an expression of their devotion to Chhathi Maiya and the Sun God.
On Sunday evening, devotees will gather at riverbanks, ponds and other designated water bodies to offer Arghya to the setting Sun. The scheduled sunset is at 4:54 p.m. The celebrations will conclude on Monday, November 16, when devotees will offer Usha Arghya to the rising Sun, expected at 5:59 a.m., followed by Parana, marking the end of the fast.
President Murmu highlights environmental message of Chhath
President Droupadi Murmu extended greetings to citizens in India and abroad on the occasion, describing Chhath as a festival symbolising deep reverence for Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya.
In a post on X, she said the four-day festival highlights the importance of cultural traditions through devotion, discipline and dedication. Devotees offer Arghya to the Sun God while praying for happiness, prosperity and the well-being of their families.
The President said the festival inspires people to express gratitude to nature and recognise their responsibility towards environmental conservation. She wished that the occasion would bring joy and peace, promote love and harmony in society, and urged citizens to pledge their commitment to protecting and conserving rivers and other water bodies.
Delhi CM extends Chhath greetings
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also extended greetings to devotees on the occasion of Sandhya Arghya, describing the tradition of offering prayers to the setting Sun as a symbol of gratitude towards nature and the values of Indian culture.
She prayed to Chhathi Maiya and Lord Bhaskar for the fulfilment of devotees’ prayers and wished happiness, prosperity and good health for every family.
Delhi makes arrangements at more than 1,400 Chhath ghats
The Delhi Government has made arrangements at more than 1,400 Chhath ghats across the national capital to facilitate the celebrations. Special preparations have been made for Sunday evening’s Sandhya Arghya and Monday morning’s Usha Arghya.
The arrangements include major ghats along the Yamuna and an approximately 11-km-long Chhath ghat developed along the Munak Canal in North Delhi. Facilities at the ghats include cleanliness, lighting, security, drinking water, toilets and changing rooms for women, along with other essential amenities.
The government has said the arrangements are intended to ensure that devotees can observe the festival with full devotion and without inconvenience.
Chhath Puja is among India’s significant festivals of folk faith and is observed to express gratitude to the Sun for sustaining life on Earth. Through its rituals of fasting, prayer and offerings to the setting and rising Sun, the festival conveys messages of purity, discipline, devotion, environmental awareness and collective harmony.