Patna: The much-awaited festival of Chhath Mahaparva 2025 has begun in Bihar, filling the air with devotion, discipline, and faith. This festival, celebrated mainly in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, is known as one of the most spiritual festivals of the region. It started today with Nahay-Khay, when devotees take a holy dip and begin the four-day fast dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. The festival continues with Kharna on the next day, followed by the offering of Arghya to the setting sun and then to the rising sun. It is believed that fasting during Chhath brings prosperity, health, and happiness to families. The observance requires purity, discipline, and devotion, as the fast lasts for 36 hours without food or water.
In Patna, the district administration has completed preparations for the festival on a grand scale. A total of 109 Chhath ghats have been set up along the Ganga, stretching from Danapur to Patna City. Out of these, six ghats have been declared unsafe and are closed to devotees for safety reasons. The administration has also prepared 63 ponds and 45 parks across the city where people can perform the rituals. Major ghats such as Collectorate Ghat, Mahendru Ghat, Digha Ghat, JP Setu Ghat, and Gai Ghat are expected to see huge gatherings. Officials estimate that over 25 lakh devotees will offer Arghya to the Sun God at the ghats in the 30-kilometre stretch from Danapur to Didarganj.
District Magistrate Tyag Rajan and Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya Sharma are personally visiting the ghats to check the arrangements. Special facilities have been set up for devotees, including changing rooms for women, toilets, drinking water, first-aid camps, microphones for crowd management, and control rooms for emergencies. Watch towers and CCTV cameras have also been installed to keep an eye on the large crowds. Police forces, both male and female, have been deployed at all major locations. “Do not pay attention to any rumours. The administration is fully prepared,” SSP Kartikeya Sharma said while assuring citizens of complete safety.
Patna is not the only city gearing up — preparations for Chhath have been completed in all districts of Bihar. In Patna alone, around 550 ghats along the Ganga River and its tributaries will host the festival. According to officials, nine NDRF teams and nine SDRF teams will be deployed, along with hundreds of divers, boatmen, and Civil Defence volunteers to respond to any emergency. River patrolling will also take place, and boat operations have been banned near the ghats to prevent accidents. The administration has made it clear that strict action will be taken against anyone violating these safety rules.
Religious scholars say that Chhath is not just a festival — it is the heartbeat of Bihar’s culture. According to astrologer and ritual expert Pandit Arun Kumar Mishra, Chhath represents faith that cannot be questioned. “It is a festival that reminds us that whatever sets will rise again,” he said, highlighting the deep spiritual meaning of the rituals. The festival celebrates the power of nature and the Sun, teaching people about purity, hope, and the balance of life.
As the sun sets over the Ganga, Patna’s ghats light up with diyas and echo with devotional songs. Women in traditional sarees, carrying bamboo baskets filled with fruits and offerings, stand in waist-deep water, praying for their families. The sight is both beautiful and emotional, showing the true spirit of Bihar’s devotion. With strong preparations, safety measures, and the unshakable faith of millions, Chhath Mahaparva 2025 is set to be celebrated with great peace, discipline, and devotion across the state.
