When dawn breaks upon the quiet rivers of Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern India, you can hear a whisper older than
civilization itself — the sound of devotion rising with the sun.
This is Chhath Puja, one of the most ancient and spiritually profound festivals in the Indian tradition.
Unlike most festivals centered on idols or temples, Chhath Puja turns to nature itself as the divine .
The devotees — mostly women, though men too join the vow — worship the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya , the Goddess who is believed
to be the Sun’s sister and the bestower of health, prosperity, and children.
But why does it happen? The roots lie deep in both mythology and meaning . Ancient texts say that even Karna , the son of the Sun, used to worship Surya standing in the river.
The rituals are also tied to Sita and Draupadi , who performed Chhath to seek blessings for family well-being and strength.
Yet beyond myth, the festival’s real reason is more human, more poetic — it is a moment of gratitude to the source of all life .
The Sun is not only a god but a witness to our daily struggle, our warmth, and our growth.
During Chhath, devotees fast for 36 hours, standing in water during sunrise and sunset — a gesture that reflects balance, endurance, and surrender .
It’s as if the human body is conversing directly with the universe, saying —
“You give us light, and we give you faith.”
There’s something ethereal about the evening arghya (offering) — when women in bright sarees hold bamboo baskets filled with fruits,
the setting sun mirrors on the water, and the entire sky becomes an altar.
There’s no loud music, no artificial decoration — just silence, light, and belief .
Chhath Puja happens every year six days after Diwali , following the new moon, marking a spiritual cleansing after the festival of lights.
It reminds us that after celebration comes gratitude , after fire comes calm , and after light — faith in the unseen .
In today’s fast world, Chhath Puja stands unique — it is a ritual that asks for nothing material but demands everything spiritual:
discipline, devotion, and dialogue with nature. It teaches that purity of mind and body can connect even the smallest of us to the vast cosmos.
Photography© by Neha Sharma .
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