Chhath Puja Begins with ‘Nahay-Khay’ Ritual, Devotees Across Bihar and Beyond Offer Prayers to the Sun God

Patna, Oct 2025: The grand festival of faith, purity, and devotion—Chhath Puja—commenced across Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal on Saturday with the traditional ritual of ‘Nahay-Khay’. The four-day-long festival, dedicated to the worship of Lord Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, symbolizes gratitude, discipline, and harmony with nature.

According to the Hindu calendar, Chhath begins on the Chaturthi Tithi of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik and culminates with the offering of Arghya to the rising Sun on Saptami Tithi, which falls on October 28 this year. The key rituals—‘Sandhya Arghya’ (evening offering to the setting Sun) and ‘Usha Arghya’ (morning offering to the rising Sun)—will be observed on October 27 and 28, respectively.

On the opening day, devotees performed ‘Nahay-Khay’, considered a day of purification that sets the spiritual tone for the festival. Men and women bathed in sacred rivers and ponds such as the Ganga, Punpun, and Gandak, cleaned their homes, and prepared satvik (pure vegetarian) meals. The traditional dish—pumpkin curry, gram dal, and rice—is cooked on clay stoves using river water and without onion, garlic, or salt, symbolizing both internal and external purity.

“Chhath is not just a ritual but a way of life. It teaches us the values of simplicity, devotion, and respect for nature,” said Swati, a devotee from Patna, who was seen singing traditional Chhath songs at the Fakkar Mahato Ghat in Danapur. Another devotee, Reena Singh, shared, “We wait all year for this festival. It gives us peace and a sense of purpose—connecting us to nature and our ancestors.”

Across Bihar, ghats such as Gurudwara Ghat, Nariyal Ghat, and Collectorate Ghat witnessed large gatherings of devotees performing holy dips and preparing offerings for Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya. Women, dressed in traditional sarees, sang age-old folk songs in reverence to the Sun God, filling the atmosphere with devotion and cultural vibrance.

In Aurangabad, the historic Dev Surya Temple, believed to date back to the Treta Yuga, drew devotees from across India and even from abroad. Around two million devotees are expected to take part in the rituals over the next few days. On Saturday, many bathed in the Dev Surya Kund, offering prayers before preparing the ritualistic meal of Arwa rice, gram dal, and pumpkin curry.

The upcoming days will witness ‘Kharna’—the ritual fasting and offering on Panchami—followed by ‘Sandhya Arghya’ on Shashthi and the concluding ‘Usha Arghya’ on Saptami. During these days, participants observe strict fasts, often going 36 hours without food or water, as a mark of devotion and endurance.

As millions prepare to gather at decorated ghats illuminated with lamps and torches, the air across Bihar and neighboring regions resonates with devotional songs, rhythmic drums, and prayers to the rising and setting Sun—a timeless celebration of light, energy, and life itself.