Celebrating Chhath: A Festival of Sun Worship and Nature

The Chhath festival, celebrated across India, begins on October 25th with rituals honoring Chhathi Maiya and Lord Surya. This four-day event involves a challenging fast and is deeply rooted in cultural traditions. Chhathi Maiya is revered as a protector of newborns, and the festival is marked by offerings to the sun. Women participate in this festival to seek blessings for wealth, prosperity, and children. Discover the rich significance and practices associated with this vibrant celebration.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 25, 2025, 09:51 IST

Chhath Festival Overview

Chhathi Maiya/Varanasi: The vibrant festival of Chhath is being celebrated nationwide, commencing with the ritual of 'Nahay Khaye'. This significant event dedicated to sun worship starts on October 25th. During Chhath, devotees honor Chhathi Maiya alongside Lord Surya. Who exactly is Chhathi Maiya, and what is her relationship with the Sun God? To shed light on this, we consulted an astrologer from Kashi. According to ancient texts, Chhathi Maiya represents the goddess of nature. At the time of creation, nature split into six components, with the sixth part being Chhathi Maiya, revered on the sixth day of the Shukla Paksha (the waxing phase) in Kartik month. In various traditions, she is also regarded as the mental daughter of Lord Brahma and is referred to as the sister of Lord Surya.

The Protective Role of Chhathi Maiya

She Provides Protection
It is believed that Chhathi Maiya safeguards newborns for the first six months of their lives. Consequently, mothers engage in worship and offer water to their sons during the Chhath festival to ensure their well-being. Pandit Subhash Pandey, an astrology professor at BHU, notes that Shashthi Tithi is viewed as feminine in sacred texts, which is why this puja is linked to Chhath under the name of Chhathi Maiya.

Observing the Fast

Fasting with Intentions
The Chhath festival spans four days, during which women across the nation observe a fast aimed at achieving wealth, prosperity, happiness, and the blessing of children. This fast is notably challenging, lasting 36 hours without water. It begins after partaking in rice and jaggery pudding on Kharna. On the first day, offerings are made to the setting sun, while the fast concludes with offerings to the rising sun on the final day. The grand Chhath celebration is particularly prominent in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi.

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