The chill of October mornings now carries the warmth of songs rising from every courtyard as Chhath Puja 2025 begins on October 25. Markets glitter with sugarcane bundles, trains hum with homecoming travellers, and kitchens fill with the scent of purity and patience.
More than a celebration, this festival is a feeling stitched with ancestral devotion. As dawn unfolds, the sacred journey starts with its first day, Nahay Khaye.
Nahay Khaye Ritual – The Sacred Start of Cleanse and Devotion
Nahay Khaye Chhath Puja marks the beginning of the four-day festival, symbolising purity in every sense. Devotees take a ritual bath, cleansing the body and spirit before the first satvik meal. Homes glow with cleanliness as ladies of the house cook rice, bottle gourd, and gram dal, simple, pure dishes reflecting discipline.
On this day, whole wheat or ‘gehu’ is washed, sun-dried carefully, and kept untouched by birds. This moment sets the tone for the Chhath Puja rituals that follow.
Homecoming Begins – Roads, Rails, and Hearts Filled with Festive Spirit
Every train compartment fills with chatter and memories as the homecoming for Chhath Puja begins. People from cities flood stations, eager to return to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to join families. The excitement feels alive at platforms and bus stands where smiles meet tears.
Villages burst into activity, with elders awaiting loved ones and children watching the roads. The Nahay Khaye Chhath Puja ritual becomes more radiant as families unite under the same roof.
Preparations in Full Swing – Ghats, Offerings, and Safety Measures
By evening, the air carries the scent of wet mud and sweet Thekua. Volunteers sweep riverbanks, clean ponds, and decorate ghats with lights and banana leaves. Local authorities ensure safety and cleanliness as barricades rise and lamps form gleaming paths for the Arghya ritual.
Women prepare Prasad, shaping Thekua with devotion, their songs harmonising with the hum of anticipation. Each act of care becomes part of the grand Chhath Puja preparations across the land.
Cultural and Environmental Significance of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja rituals celebrate the Sun God, giver of light and life, symbolising gratitude and balance. The practice teaches reverence for nature, seen in the use of river water, clay lamps, and natural offerings.
Every gesture honours sustainability, reminding us that devotion includes caring for the earth itself. This connection to nature makes Chhath Puja not just spiritual but an enduring reflection of environmental respect.
Things to Avoid During Chhath Puja – Keeping the Rituals Pure
The path of devotion asks for purity and discipline. Devotees avoid non-vegetarian food, processed snacks, and alcohol. Loud celebrations or disrespect near ghats disturb the sanctity of rituals.
Cleanliness and silence hold deep meaning as the Nahay Khaye rituals continue. Each act of restraint preserves the festival’s essence, devotion without distraction, faith without excess, and celebration rooted in gratitude.
As the glow of lamps spreads and homecoming fills every lane, the festival renews faith, unity, and the eternal bond between nature and devotion.
