Chhath Puja 2025: Dates, Rituals, and Spiritual Significance of the Great Festival of Sun Worship
Pune, 23rd October 2025: As the sacred month of Kartik unfolds, the air across India begins to fill with devotion, rituals, and the glow of countless lamps. For followers of Sanatan Dharma, Kartik marks a period of deep spiritual energy—culminating in Chhath Puja, the festival of sun worship and gratitude to Chhathi Maiya, celebrated with unmatched fervour in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, and increasingly across Maharashtra as well.
This year, Chhath Puja 2025 will be observed between October 25 and October 28, following the new moon day (Amavasya) on October 21, which marked the beginning of Shukla Paksha (the bright lunar fortnight).
Chhath Puja 2025 Calendar and Auspicious Timings
According to the Vedic calendar, the Kartik Shukla Paksha begins on October 21, 2025, and concludes with Kartik Purnima on November 5, 2025. The four-day-long Chhath rituals unfold as follows:
October 25 (Saturday): Nahai-Khaay – Devotees begin the Chhath festival by cleansing themselves and purifying their homes and surroundings. This marks the first day of the ritual.
October 26 (Sunday): Lohanda and Kharna – Observers prepare prasad (mainly jaggery kheer and fruits) and begin a two-day nirjala fast, which is broken only after offering prayers to the setting and rising sun.
October 27 (Monday): Sandhya Arghya (Evening Offering) – Devotees offer the first Arghya to the setting sun, expressing gratitude for sustaining life on Earth. The auspicious time for the evening Arghya is between 5:10 pm and 5:58 pm.
October 28 (Tuesday): Usha Arghya (Morning Offering) – The concluding ritual takes place at sunrise, between 5:33 am and 6:30 am, as devotees offer water and prayers to the rising sun, seeking health, prosperity, and peace. The fast is then broken with thekua and fruits.
Spiritual Significance and Traditions
Chhath Puja is one of the most ancient Vedic festivals dedicated to Lord Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, symbolising purity, discipline, and faith. Devotees observe rigorous fasting, maintain utmost cleanliness, and prepare special offerings without the use of salt, onions, or garlic.
As Pandit Bhupesh Mishra explained, “Worshipping Lord Bhaskar during the auspicious hours of Chhath Vrat removes hardships and brings prosperity. The Sun represents life energy and consciousness—offering Arghya connects the devotee directly to that cosmic force.”
Throughout the four days, the atmosphere resonates with traditional Chhath songs and the sight of clay lamps floating on riverbanks. The rituals symbolise gratitude towards nature and the cyclical rhythm of life.
Astrological Coincidence and Kartik Month Festivities
Astrologers note that in 2025, planetary positions during Chhath Puja are highly auspicious for spiritual practices. The Kartik month began with Dhanteras and Diwali, followed by the worship of Lord Dhanvantari, Kubera, and Goddess Lakshmi. The devotional continuity from Deepotsav to Chhath sustains a spiritually charged environment, with households lighting new lamps daily until Chhath concludes.
The month will later include Akshaya Navami (October 30)—dedicated to the worship of the Amla tree, Devuthani Ekadashi (November 1), Tulsi Vivah (November 2), and culminate with Kartik Purnima (November 5), when devotees take the sacred Ganga Snan.
Purity, Faith, and Community Spirit
Chhath is more than a religious festival—it is a celebration of simplicity, discipline, and ecological harmony. Every household, riverbank, and pond turns into a place of prayer, where the divine feminine is invoked through Chhathi Maiya’s songs. The emphasis on cleanliness, sustainability, and gratitude resonates deeply with modern environmental values.
As preparations begin across India and in Pune’s growing migrant communities, Chhath 2025 is set to once again unite millions in devotion under the rising and setting sun—honouring faith, nature, and the eternal cycle of light and life.
