The Significance of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja is a deeply rooted and revered festival in eastern India, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God (Surya) and the goddess Chhathi Maiya. Celebrated over four days, it’s marked by strict rituals, fasting, and offerings at dawn and dusk. The festival underscores themes of gratitude, purity, and nature’s benevolence, as devotees express thanks for life’s sustaining energy.
What’s Happening Today
-
Schools and colleges across Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are officially closed today, allowing families to fully participate in the festival’s main rituals.
-
In urban centres like Delhi, the celebrations have adapted to city life: rooftops, community ponds and local parks are serving as makeshift sites for the river-linked rituals. This has helped migrant communities from Bihar and Jharkhand retain their cultural connection.
-
In Dhanbad (Jharkhand), traffic authorities have implemented special rules today to manage the heavy movement of devotees heading to ghats for the major evening offerings.
Key Rituals Observed Today
Today marks one of the central days of the Puja, when devotees gather at water bodies for the Sandhya Arghya (offering to the setting sun) and/or early morning Usha Arghya (offering to the rising sun). Participants often observe a nirjala (no-water) fast, stand knee-deep in water, and offer seasonal fruits, sugarcane, thekua sweets and other prasad prepared without onions or garlic. The spiritual focus is on surrendering to nature’s rhythms and seeking blessings for the health and well-being of family members.
How Urban Celebrations Are Evolving
While the essence remains, the setting is changing:
-
In cities like Delhi, smaller community gatherings and simplified rituals allow traditional devotees to observe despite being away from rivers.
-
Use of technology—video calls, live streaming of ghats—is becoming part of the experience, keeping families connected.
-
Local youth groups and cultural associations are organising events that combine the spiritual aspect with social bonding and heritage-awareness.
These evolutions reflect how the festival is both preserving its roots and adapting to modern urban lifestyles.
Precautions & Tips for Participants
-
Head to ghats before sunset, as crowd density increases sharply after.
-
Follow traffic detours and parking guidelines, especially in states like Jharkhand where restrictions are active today.
-
Devotees opting for urban sites (rooftops/ponds) should maintain cleanliness and avoid polluting water bodies.
-
Hydration and modest food after the fast: though part of tradition is the rigorous fast, health matters.
-
Respect local customs: many spaces will have no-noise zones or designated areas for ritual stands.
Why This Festival Resonates Today
In an age of fast-paced living, Chhath Puja offers a moment of calm reflection. It blends devotion with ecological awareness—honouring the sun, water, purity and communal bonding. For many migrant families, it serves as a strong cultural anchor. In cities it becomes more than ritual: it’s about identity, continuity and belonging.
Final Thought
Whether you’re participating riverside in Bihar or on a rooftop in Delhi, today’s Chhath Puja is about gratitude and renewal. The offerings to the sun-God at dusk and dawn symbolise hope, resilience and the enduring human-nature connection. As communities gather, fast and pray, this festival continues to shine — a quiet but powerful testament to faith and cultural heritage.
