Chhath Puja Worship of Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya

The Story Behind Chhath Puja: Worship of the Sun

Chhath Puja is one of the most ancient and disciplined Hindu festivals, celebrating the life-giving radiance of the Sun (Surya Dev) and the nurturing grace of Chhathi Maiya. Observed with deep devotion in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Nepal’s Terai, and by Indian communities worldwide, it is a prayer of gratitude for energy, health, and prosperity. The festival’s heart lies in purity, self-control, and service. Through fasting, standing in river water, and offering arghya to the setting and rising Sun, devotees seek blessings for their family and society. In this article, Padmabuja.com explores the roots, rituals, symbolism, and modern relevance of Chhath Puja—showing how this sacred vrat transforms simple acts into profound spiritual sadhana and connects us to nature, tradition, and inner light.

Origins and Legends of Chhath Puja

The word “Chhath” means “sixth” and refers to the sixth day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) in the month of Kartik. Some regions also observe Chaitra Chhath. The worship of the Sun is mentioned in Vedic literature, where Surya is praised as the source of prana, sight, and truth. Over time, folk traditions blended with Vedic reverence, forming the unique sadhana of Chhath.

Popular legends include:

• Karna, the Suryaputra: It is believed Karna, son of Surya Dev, was a great devotee who offered daily prayers standing in water, symbolizing steadfastness and courage.
• Draupadi and the Pandavas: A tradition says Draupadi performed Chhath to seek wellbeing, righteousness, and relief from hardship, reflecting the vrat’s power to restore harmony.
• Rama and Sita: As per belief, after returning to Ayodhya, Shri Ram and Mata Sita observed a Sun worship on Shashthi, inspiring generations to honor Surya and uphold dharma.

Who Is Chhathi Maiya?

Chhathi Maiya is revered as a compassionate motherly deity associated with the protective Shashti Devi and the dawn goddess Usha. She is the gentle presence that guards children, supports family wellbeing, and opens the path to new beginnings. In Chhath Puja, devotees lovingly address her as “Maiya,” inviting a relationship of trust and surrender. Worshiping Surya Dev alongside Chhathi Maiya unites the masculine life-force with the feminine nurturing principle—energy guided by grace.

Why We Worship the Sun (Surya Dev)

Surya Dev represents light, time, clarity, and the rhythm of life. Without the Sun, food would not grow, seasons would not shift, and our bodies would not thrive. In the spiritual lens, the Sun symbolizes the inner witness, the Atman that reveals truth. Offering arghya to the Sun is a prayer to move from darkness to light, from confusion to wisdom. It is also an act of ecological gratitude—honoring the cosmic source that sustains rivers, crops, and all living beings.

When Is Chhath Puja Celebrated?

Chhath occurs twice a year:

• Kartik Chhath: The grand observance, on Kartik Shukla Chaturthi to Saptami, just after Diwali, when the air is clear and post-harvest joy fills homes.
• Chaitra Chhath: Occurs in the spring during Chaitra Shukla Paksha, observed with equal devotion in many regions.

Each day holds a precise spiritual and ecological rhythm—purification, restraint, gratitude, and renewal.

Four-Day Rituals of Chhath Puja: Step-by-Step

1. Nahay-Khay (Purification and Sattvic Food)
   • Devotees bathe in a clean water source and purify the kitchen.
   • Simple vegetarian meal is prepared, traditionally rice, lauki (bottle gourd) dal, and kaddu, cooked without onion and garlic.
   • The vrat begins with sankalp—an intention for purity, service, and wellbeing.
2. Kharna (Fasting with Sweet Offering)
   • A day-long fast ends after sunset with prasad of kheer (made of jaggery or sugar), rice, and chapati.
   • From this night, many vratins observe a nirjala fast—without food and water—until the next sunrise arghya, practicing deep discipline and focus.
3. Sandhya Arghya (Evening Offering to the Setting Sun)
   • At riverbanks or ghats, devotees offer arghya from bamboo soop and daura filled with fruits, thekua, sugarcane, and earthen lamps.
   • Standing in water, they present milk and water to the Sun, praying for forgiveness of past errors and for balance in nature and society.
   • Communities sing traditional Chhath geet and sohars, creating a sacred ambience of hope and humility.
4. Usha Arghya (Morning Offering to the Rising Sun)
   • Before dawn, devotees gather again to honor the first rays, symbolizing new consciousness.
   • After the arghya, the vrat ends (parana) with prasad and blessings shared with family and neighbors.

Sacred Offerings and Their Meaning

• Thekua: A humble jaggery-wheat sweet symbolizing patience, simplicity, and wholesome nourishment.
• Fruits and Sugarcane: Gifts of the earth offered back to Surya Dev, expressing gratitude for harvest and livelihood.
• Coconut, rice, turmeric, and kumkum: Purity, abundance, and auspiciousness.
• Earthen lamps (diya): The light of awareness dispelling ignorance.
• Kosi Bharna: A canopy of sugarcane sticks with lamps lit beneath—invoking protection, fertility, and family wellbeing.
• Water and milk arghya: The flow of life and compassion, offered with folded hands to the cosmic sustainer.

Discipline, Devotion, and Inner Transformation

Chhath Puja is more than ritual; it is a powerful sadhana of body and mind. The rules—cleanliness, early rising, truthful speech, and meticulous cooking—create inner order. The long fast, silent prayer, and standing in cold water train the will and purify emotions. As the eyes rest on the golden disc of the Sun, the heart learns steadiness, and the mind learns gratitude. Many devotees share personal testimonies of calmness, clarity, and renewed purpose after the vrat.

Folk Songs, Community Spirit, and Cultural Heritage

Chhath geet carry the wisdom of mothers and grandmothers, teaching values of respect, responsibility, and compassion. The festival unites families across generations—children carry soop, elders guide the vows, neighbors help clean ghats. This shared devotion nurtures social harmony and a sense of belonging. The attire—often saffron, yellow, or red saris and simple dhotis—reflects purity and warmth, while the open worship at riverbanks symbolizes inclusiveness.

Health, Ecology, and a Scientific View

• Health: Moderate sunlight supports vitamin D synthesis and circadian rhythms. Fasting with sattvic food may enhance mindfulness and digestive rest.
• Ecology: Chhath emphasizes fresh, seasonal, biodegradable offerings. Devotees traditionally clean riverbanks and avoid fireworks, modeling eco-conscious celebration.
• Rhythm of Nature: Evening and dawn arghya align with gentle solar angles, inviting reflection at times of natural transition.

Chhath Puja in Modern Times and the Diaspora

From Patna’s ghats to Delhi, Mumbai, Kathmandu, Mauritius, and New Jersey, Chhath Puja now shines worldwide. Communities build temporary water tanks and eco-friendly ghats, arrange medical aid, and coordinate volunteers. Digital platforms help share timings, songs, and recipes, yet the heart remains the same—silent prayer, sincere gratitude, and shared prasad. For migrants, Chhath becomes a bridge to home, language, and ancestral blessings.

How to Observe Chhath at Home Respectfully

• Prepare a clean space for worship; keep utensils and kitchen sacred.
• Use bamboo baskets, earthen lamps, and natural ingredients where possible.
• Learn the geet and procedure from elders or trusted guides; keep the vow simple and genuine.
• Offer arghya facing the Sun with humility; maintain peace and cleanliness.
• Share prasad with all—Chhath teaches equality and kindness.

Key Symbolism at a Glance

• Setting Sun: Acceptance, letting go, and gratitude for the day’s lessons.
• Rising Sun: Renewal, courage, and the promise of right action.
• Water: Purity, patience, and the flow of divine grace.
• Fire/Lamp: Wisdom lighting the path within and without.

Common Questions About Chhath Puja

• Is Chhath only for women? No. While many women lead the vrat, men and entire families participate with equal devotion.
• Can beginners observe Chhath? Yes—start with guidance, sincerity, and moderation. The essence is purity and gratitude.
• What if there is no river nearby? Clean water bodies, ponds, or thoughtfully prepared home setups are used, keeping eco-responsibility in mind.

Conclusion: Walking in the Light of Surya Dev

Chhath Puja weaves ancient Vedic reverence with living folk wisdom, turning simple offerings into a profound dialogue with nature. Through Nahay-Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya, and Usha Arghya, devotees cultivate discipline, humility, and joy. Surya Dev illuminates our outer world, while Chhathi Maiya tenderly nourishes our inner life. The festival reminds us that gratitude is strength, simplicity is beauty, and service is worship. As we fold our hands to the setting and rising Sun, may our actions reflect purity, our homes radiate harmony, and our hearts remain open to the divine light within. In honoring the Sun, we honor life itself—today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.