📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Maneesh Jaiswal 01
Religion
Bihar’s Chhath Puja: A Sacred Festival of Sun Worship
✍️ News18
🗓 09 Nov 2026, 01:02 PM
👁 13
Bihar’s Chhath Puja, a four‑day festival dedicated to the Sun God, draws millions of devotees to the banks of the Ganges and other rivers, offering a unique blend of ritual, community, and cultural heritage.
The Chhath Puja, observed annually in late October or early November, is one of Bihar’s most important religious festivals. Devotees gather at riverbanks, especially the Ganges, to perform the traditional rituals of sunrise and sunset worship, offering fruits, sweets, and prayers to the Sun God.
The festival spans four days, beginning with the preparation of the ‘Nahay Khay’ ceremony, followed by the ‘Kharna’ and ‘Antyakhyan’ rituals. Each day is marked by strict fasting, early morning vigils, and the lighting of lamps on the water’s surface.
In addition to the religious fervor, Chhath Puja serves as a social event, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate unity and cultural identity. The festival’s popularity has also attracted tourists seeking to witness the vibrant processions and communal feasts.
While the main celebrations take place in Patna and other major towns, smaller villages across Bihar also host elaborate local traditions, showcasing the festival’s widespread significance.
The Chhath Puja’s enduring appeal lies in its blend of devotion, community participation, and the natural beauty of the riverine landscape, making it a must‑experience for both pilgrims and travelers.
The festival spans four days, beginning with the preparation of the ‘Nahay Khay’ ceremony, followed by the ‘Kharna’ and ‘Antyakhyan’ rituals. Each day is marked by strict fasting, early morning vigils, and the lighting of lamps on the water’s surface.
In addition to the religious fervor, Chhath Puja serves as a social event, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate unity and cultural identity. The festival’s popularity has also attracted tourists seeking to witness the vibrant processions and communal feasts.
While the main celebrations take place in Patna and other major towns, smaller villages across Bihar also host elaborate local traditions, showcasing the festival’s widespread significance.
The Chhath Puja’s enduring appeal lies in its blend of devotion, community participation, and the natural beauty of the riverine landscape, making it a must‑experience for both pilgrims and travelers.