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Chhath Puja History and Importance: Very few people know about the Chhath Mahaparva dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, the importance of this fast and how it started. Today we will tell you who first observed the fast of Chhath festival and when.
23 October, 2025
Chhath Puja History and Importance: In Sanatan Dharma, Chhath Mahaparva is considered to be the longest and most difficult fast. This great festival is mainly celebrated in UP and Bihar. This fast, which will last for four days, will start on 25th October this year and will end on the morning of 28th October by offering Arghya to the Sun God. For the people of Bihar, it is not just a fast, but a symbol of their cultural identity and faith. Very few people know about the Chhath Mahaparva dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, the importance of this fast and how it started. Today we will tell you who first observed the fast of Chhath festival and when.
Mother Sita had performed Surya Puja
We get information about Chhath festival from Ramayana that Mother Sita first started Chhath festival with the worship of Sun God. It is believed that when Lord Rama returned after spending 14 years in exile and killing Ravana, he was accused of the sin of killing a Brahmin. To atone for this sin, Mugdal Rishi suggested worshiping the Sun God. After this, Mother Sita and Lord Ram worshiped the Sun for 6 days at the Ganga Ghat in Munger, Bihar. Even today, the footprints of Mother Sita have been preserved in Munger and a large number of people reach near Ganga Ghat every year for Chhath Puja.
Read this also- The doors of Kedarnath and Yamunotri Dham are closed from today, Baba’s palanquin left for Omkareshwar.
The story is related to Draupadi
The strings of Chhath Mahaparva are also connected to Dwapar Yuga. It is believed that during the Mahabharata period, when the Pandavas lost their kingdom, their wife Draupadi worshiped the Sun God to get relief from her sufferings. During the same period, Karna also used to offer Arghya to the Sun God every day, which is one of the main rituals of Chhath, hence Suryaputra Karna is also associated with Chhath Puja.
Sun God and Chhathi Maiya are worshipped.
Chhath Mahaparva is a strict fast of four days. Nahay Khay is celebrated on the first day, which means eating food after taking bath. On this day, people purify their mind by taking bath and eating pure satvik food. The next day is Kharna, when the devotees fast the whole day and in the evening worship Chhathi Maiya and Suryadev and eat Prasad. Prasad is also distributed on this day. The third day is the evening Arghya, on this day the devotees keep fast for the whole day and reach the ghat in the evening and worship Chhathi Maiya. The devotees stand in water and offer Arghya to the setting sun. The next morning, after reaching Varti Ghat, they offer Arghya to the rising sun and with this the Chhath fast ends.
Also read- Grand Chhath Puja in Delhi: 17 new ghats will be built on the banks of Yamuna, cases registered against devotees will be withdrawn.
