Chhath Puja Celebrations Across Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad Bring Communities Together For Sandhya Arghya

Reported by Radhika Sharma and Priyanshu Banerjee

Pune, 15th November 2026: From Viman Nagar to Undri, Chhath Puja celebrations across Pune brought together devotees on Sunday, 15th November, for Sandhya Arghya, the third day of the four-day festival. Communities across the city gathered to offer prayers to the setting Sun, with families and devotees coming together to observe the rituals and celebrate their cultural traditions, even while living away from their native places.

Chhath Puja, a four-day festival dedicated to Surya Dev (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, is observed through a series of rituals involving fasting, prayers and offerings to the Sun. The third day, Sandhya Arghya, involves devotees offering water and prayers to the setting Sun, seeking blessings for the well-being, prosperity and safety of their families.

At Symbiosis Ground in Viman Nagar, devotees spoke about the significance of the evening ritual and the importance of the setting Sun in Chhath Puja. They explained that while the Sun God is worshipped in several cultures, Chhath places particular importance on both sunset and sunrise prayers.

“On the occasion of Sandhya Arghya, we pay respects to the setting Sun, worship the Sun God, and pray for our families’ safety, prosperity and well-being.”

They also highlighted how the festival’s rituals extend into the following morning, when devotees observe Usha Arghya. On Monday, 16th November, women observing the fast will offer prayers to the rising Sun before breaking their 36-hour fasts, marking the conclusion of the festival.

“In a lot of cultures, people worship Surya Dev (the Sun God), especially the rising Sun, but in Bihar, people believe that a setting Sun holds a lot of importance, and the next morning during Usha Arghya, the women will break their 36-hour fasts after offering prayers to the rising Sun.”

The devotees further spoke about how Chhath Puja is as much about family and community participation as it is about religious observance. The preparations and rituals often involve extended and joint families coming together, with women playing a central role in observing the fasts and conducting the prayers.

“Chhath Puja is foremost about community and family. Extended and joint families come together to make the rigorous fasts and the Pujas possible. Women, especially, practice offering and participating in the prayers for as long as they can, no matter their age.”

However, they also acknowledged that changing lifestyles, smaller family structures and migration to cities for employment could influence how the festival is observed in the coming years. With more families living in urban areas and younger generations growing up away from their ancestral homes, the scale and manner of celebrations could evolve.

“As lifestyles change, families change; the scale of Chhath Puja might dwindle, especially with nuclear families, people moving to cities for jobs and work schedules. But for now, even if we aren’t in Bihar, we try to make the most of it, no matter what.”

A similar sense of community was visible in Undri, where devotees gathered for Sandhya Arghya. They spoke about Chhath Puja being celebrated as a Mahaparv (grand festival) across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, while also highlighting its connection with nature and gratitude towards the elements that sustain life.

“Chhath is celebrated as a mahaparv in Bihar, UP, and Jharkhand as well. We, as humans, worship nature and are thankful to her.”

For several families who could not travel back to their native places this year, celebrations in Pune offered an opportunity to remain connected with their cultural roots. Devotees in Undri said that the arrangements and enthusiasm surrounding the celebrations in the city helped recreate the atmosphere they would otherwise experience back home.

“We couldn’t go to our native place this year, but here in Pune, the way Chhath is celebrated, we are happy to get a similar atmosphere and enthusiasm for the Puja.”

Beyond the rituals, celebrations across Pune also highlighted how cultural traditions are being carried forward across generations. For children and younger family members growing up in the city, participating in the preparations and witnessing the prayers offers an opportunity to understand the significance of a festival that their families have observed for years. As more people settle in cities and build families away from their hometowns, community-led celebrations have become an important way of introducing younger generations to these traditions.

The celebrations will conclude on Monday, 16th November, with Usha Arghya, when devotees will gather before sunrise to offer prayers to the rising Sun. Women observing the 36-hour fast will break their fast after completing the morning rituals.

With celebrations taking place across Pune, Chhath Puja continues to bring together people who share a cultural connection to the festival, demonstrating how traditions can be sustained and passed on even when families are far away from their native places.