The veneration of Surya Dev has been sung in the Surya Sukta of the Rigveda since ancient times. The sages saw the Sun as the giver of life. They said: this light is what holds the world together.
The Brahma Vaivarta Purana describes the Shashthi Devi. She is considered the power-form of Surya Dev. She is the one known as Chhathi Maiya.
The Skanda Purana mentions the veneration of the Sun on Kartik Shukla Shashthi. The tradition of standing at the river ghat and offering arghya (an offering of water) on that day is ancient.
The Mahabharata also mentions Karna, the supreme devotee of the Sun. This current of solar veneration has remained deeply rooted in the tradition of Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and the Terai region of Nepal.
The first day is called Nahay Khay. Family members bathe in a river or pond. A sattvic meal is prepared — chana dal (split chickpeas), bottle gourd, and arwa (unpolished) rice. The house is cleaned and the mind is calmed.
The second day is called Kharna. After sunset, the fasting family members prepare a prasad of jaggery kheer (rice pudding) and flatbread. The food is first offered to Surya Dev, then family and neighbours partake of the prasad.
On the third day, the evening arghya (Sandhya Arghya) is offered at sunset. A bamboo basket called daurah is arranged with thekua (a sweet made from wheat and jaggery), sugarcane, coconut, and seasonal fruits. The family goes to the ghat. Water and milk are offered to the setting sun as arghya.
On the fourth day, the family reaches the ghat before dawn. They wait for the rising sun. As the first rays appear, Usha Arghya is offered. After this, the fast comes to its end.
Folk songs are sung at the ghat in Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Magahi. These songs are a veneration of Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya. This festival has been passed down from generation to generation by the elders of families.
The most beautiful thing about Chhath is this — no murti, no temple. Just a river, the sun, the sky, and family. In that simplicity lies its deepest meaning.
Everyone salutes the rising sun — in Chhath, the setting sun is also given thanks.
From the Surya Sukta of the Rigveda to the Skanda Purana, solar veneration runs very deep in Indian tradition. Chhath Puja is the living form of that tradition. This festival holds gratitude toward the river, water, the sun, and the earth.
The Shashthi Devi described in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana is worshipped in this festival as Chhathi Maiya. She is considered the power-form of Surya Dev. In tradition, it is believed that this veneration brings the sun's blessing to the family and its children.
This festival is an inseparable part of the Bhojpuri-Maithili-Magahi culture of Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Nepal's Terai region. All members of the family — children, elders, young people — celebrate this festival together.
- All family members gather at the ghat — children come along too.
- Lamps are lit at the ghat during Sandhya Arghya.
- Folk songs are sung in which Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya are venerated.
- The tradition of arranging thekua, sugarcane, coconut, and fruit in the bamboo daurah and carrying it to the ghat.
- After arghya, the prasad is distributed to the family and those present.
- The prasad from Kharna is also given to neighbours and visitors.
- The river ghat is cleaned before the festival by the family and community together.
- In tradition, family members — especially women — have observed this fast.