References:
https://www.perniaspopupshop.com/about-occasions/chhath-puja?srsltid=AfmBOopsPr6zOAa8AqTRE-YS35Q6NcSmv6AIVgFMLEQeYLfoyuyUvK0N
http://www.sahapedia.org/chhath-puja-origin-of-the-festival-and-the-story-of-devasena
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhath
https://wemy.in/blogs/news/origin-of-chhath-puja?srsltid=AfmBOooQKWhuSv3hUHgggFgsJUR9M4KDgT1ojZgjoQpIMBwa2V01gGBc
Dedicated to the Sun God, Surya, and his consort, Chhathi Maiya, Chhath Puja is a vibrant Hindu festival celebrated primarily in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and certain parts of Nepal. Various communities who celebrate chatth puja, come together on the banks of rivers and water bodies, to perform sacred rituals, associated with immense cultural and emotional significance, transcending social or economic barriers. Communities unite, prepare and perform rituals with emphasis on purity and abstinence.
Chhath is an ancient Indo-Nepalese Hindu festival, native to eastern India and southern Nepal. It is celebrated, especially in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Purvanchal; and Koshi, Gandaki, Bagmati, Lumbini, and Madhesh provinces of Nepal. In major urban centres like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Janakpur, and Kathmandu, the Indian and Nepali diaspora actively participates in celebrating Chhath, preserving their cultural heritage. The festival is also celebrated by the diaspora in countries such as the United States, Australia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Mauritius, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
Preparations begin days in advance. Houses are washed and devotees maintain purity carefully. Ritual tools are either new or washed carefully to preserve their holiness.The rituals are observed over three nights and four days, and include holy bathing, fasting, abstaining from drinking water as a vrata (devotion), standing in water, and offering prasada (prayer offerings of food) and arghya to the rising and setting of the Sun. Some devotees also perform a prostration march as they head towards the riverbanks. All devotees prepare similar prasada and offerings. Pooja Essentials such as bamboo baskets (daura), clay diyas, sugarcane stalks, fruits, coconuts and earthen pots are bought by people. They're symbolic in their minimalism and sustainability -- which mirrors the festival's bond with the environment.
Vedic origins
Being traced back to early Vedic period, Ancient texts such as the Rigveda reference sun worship, and hymns dedicated to Surya, the sun are abundant. The hymns are also known as Surya Suktas, highlighting the sun as the source of the life and energy. Since then, several legends have been associated with Surya Bhagwan through Ramayan, Mahabharata and many other ancient scriptures associating with the origins of Chatth Puja.
Mahabharata refers to the incident when Sage Dhaumya advised Draupadi to observe the rituals of Chhath Puja and worship the sun, in order to find a solution to the many hardships, Pandavas and Draupadi faced including food and water scarcity. Draupadi’s devotion and adherence to the rituals alleviated their immediate problems and helped them regain their lost kingdom.
A second incident, also from Mahabharata only, refers to Karna, the son of Surya and Kunti, who was known for his devotion to father Surya, would stand by river everyday and and pray to God. This dedication made him a revered figure and his practice of Surya puja is considered the foundation for the rituals of Chatt Puja.
According to the incident from Ramayana which serves as the basis of Chatth Puja, Sita, the wife of Lord Ram, performed Chhath Puja. After returning to Ayodhya from their exile, Rama and Sita observed a fast and worshipped the sun God to atone for their sins and seek blessings. The people of Ayodhya later adopted this practice, which has continued to be an integral part of the festival. This legend is particularly significant in regions like Bihar. King Dasharatha, too, was believed to have performed similar sun rituals in order to tackle issues in his kingdom. These links demonstrate that Chhath isn’t just a local festival -- it’s India’s longest-surviving form of energy worship.
The Brahma vaivarta Purana and 18 major Puranas mentions the worship of Chaathi Maya, the goddess associated with the 6th day of the month of Karthik. According to the Puranas, she is also known as Devasena, the protector of children and the giver of offspring. The goddess Chhathi Mai/Usha, said to be Surya’s consort, holds a significant position of reverence and worship.
Who is Chhati Ma ?
According to Braham Vaivarta Purana, when God created the world, he also created Purusha and Prakriti. Prakriti was further divided into several elements, of which the 6th part is Chhati/Shashthi, and she is called the Devasena (according to Pradyumna Kumar who researched chatth puja most extensively). According to Pradyumna Kumar, recounting the story of how Devasena came to be associated with children. 'There were a king Priyavrat and his queen Malini, most likely in the belt around current Bihar and Jharkhand. They did not have any children and conducted a Putrakaamesthi Yagya (a ritual requesting the gods to bestow them with a son), during which a bowl of kheer (rice pudding) appeared from within the havan kund (fire pit). The queen eats the pudding and becomes pregnant. However, the child is stillborn. Grief-stricken, she rushes to a river to commit suicide when a woman appears and stops her. Identifying herself as Devasena/Shasthi, she asks the queen to worship her and the sun god, for bestowing children and for their protection. Queen Malini did as asked, and was soon blessed with a child. Since then, the practice of Chhath Puja started.'
Another reference to Chatt Puja, based on perpetuating the lineage:
Chhathi Mai is referred to as the giver and protector of children comes in K.S. Singh’s paper Solar Traditions in Tribal and Folk Cultures of India. He writes: 'The kathas, as they are recited today, also bear evidence of the influence of many other cults, such as that of the mother goddess who is called Chhathi Mai. The influence of the mother goddess cult on Chhath may have appeared later. It is explained through myths. Devi, it is said, was born in Bihar to restore happiness after the great battle between the Asurs and Devas. She is the giver of children and their protector. She ensures the perpetuation of lineage (vansha) by granting the boon of having sons. The anthropomorphic representation of Chhathi Mai has been a recent innovation. The essential characteristics of the Chhath as the festival centred on sun worship, however, remain intact.'
While Chhathi has often been referred to as Surya’s consort, there is a mention of Devasena in the Brahmavaivarta Purana as Kartik’s wife. In Ganesh: Studies of an Asian God, Robert L Brown quotes from the Ganesa Khanda: 'Narada interrupts his narrative of the birth and early life of Ganesa to describe the origin of Kartika. Kama gives "the knowledge of the sexual science" to Kartika; after this "Brahma chanted the Vedas and married the fair, lovely, good-natured Devasena (whom the savants caked Sasthi) to Kartika".’ Brown says this description suggests a sexual union between Devasena and Kartik. This probably is the link of Chatth Puja with Kanda Shasti or skanda Shashti celebrated in South India:
Chhath Puja has its origins in the regions of eastern UP (Ayodhya) and states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, and in Nepal, but its popularity has now spread not only across north and east India, but even across the world. The four-day celebrations attract so many people that city and state authorities often have to make special arrangements. The festival is celebrated 6 days after Deepawali, and falls in the lunisolar month of Karthik (October-November of the Gregorian calendar). The festival is also referred to as the solar festival, since the principle worship god is Surya. ALso known as Surya Shashthi vrat, with the word chat coming from shashti or the 6th day of the new moon.
The most interesting thing about this festival is that this is one of the rarest festivals which start at a sunset rather than sunrise. Although not gender-specific but traditionally and socially females have been conducting the festival mainly because Chhati ma is said to be the protector goddess of children, ensuring their longevity and good health.
Food and offerings:
Chhath Puja is also marked by the preparation and offering of a variety of traditional and sattvic (pure and vegetarian) dishes that are cooked without onion or garlic. These food items hold cultural and religious importance, often passed down through generations.
Four of the most important traditional prasadas (offerings) offered during Chhath Puja are:
1) Thekua – A crispy, sweet snack made from wheat flour, jaggery, and ghee, then deep-fried. Thekua is the most iconic offering of Chhath Puja.
2) Rasabali – A traditional dessert made from flattened rice soaked in sweetened milk, flavored with cardamom and dry fruits.
3) Kasar (Laddoo) – Made with powdered rice or wheat flour and jaggery, these laddoos are shaped into small balls and are considered a holy offering.
4) Rice Laddu (Peethha) – A steamed or fried dumpling filled with jaggery and coconut, especially common in Bihar and Eastern UP.
These recipes are not only offerings but also symbolize purity, devotion, and cultural richness associated with the Chhath festival.
Environmentalists have claimed that the festival of Chhath is one of the most eco-friendly religious festivals.
Spiritual Significance of Fasting and Rituals:
Fasting on Chhath Puja 2025 is not just a religious ritual -- it is also a detox of the body and the mind. Devotees fast -- without even a drop of water -- for the better part of almost 36 hours, devoting all their energy to prayer.
This fast symbolizes purity, restraint and self-control. Scientifically, it’s for the body to reset and cleanse itself. Spiritually, it eliminates the distraction, enabling one to get in touch with the divine force directly.
The ritual also underscores equality -- there’s no priest, no temple, just you, nature and devotion.
Chhath Puja is a folk festival that lasts four days, starting with Kartik Shukla Chaturthi and ending on Kartik Shukla Saptami. The puja is celebrated twice a year:
1) Chaiti Chhath – observed in the Chaitra month of Vikram Samvat.
2) Kartik Chhath – celebrated at a very large scale in the Kartika month of Vikram Samvat.
The main worshippers, called parvaitin ('devotees', or 'occasion' or 'festival'), are usually women. However, men also observe this festival as Chhath is not a gender-specific festival. The parvaitin pray for the well-being of their family, and for the prosperity of their children.
Daywise Performing the Rituals:
Nahay Khay (Day 1):
The worshiper bathes in a river and prepares rice and pumpkin cooked on a clay stove made with mango wood. Here is where purity begins.
Kharna (Day 2):
On the next day, devotees fast from sunrise to sunset and break their fast after sunset with gud ki kheer (jaggery pudding) and fruits. After that, they have 36 hours in which to fast without water.
Sandhya Arghya (Day 3):
The most recognizable point of Chhath Puja. Devotees congregate at riverbanks to wash bye-bye the Sun by offering water and fruits while singing folk songs and praying for family welfare.
Usha Arghya (Day 4):
On the last morning, devotees visit the riverbank to pray to the rising Sun before breaking their fast. The fast ends at this time.
A custom unique to Bihar is the Chhath Puja Kosi ritual performed on the evening of the third day. During this ritual, devotees place earthen lamps or diyas under a canopy made from sugarcane sticks, symbolising the Vedic age tradition of maintaining a sacred fire. Jharkhand sees notable practices like preparing unique dishes like Chhath ka Thekua and Kasar offered to the Sun God. Additionally, the tribal communities incorporate traditional songs and dances into the celebration, adding a local flavour to the festival.