Patna: As the sun dips beyond the horizon this evening, the ghats of Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Muzaffarpur will glow with thousands of earthen lamps, marking the most evocative moment of Chhath Puja — the offering of Sandhya Arghya, or prayers to the setting sun.
On the third day of the four-day festival, devotees, dressed in traditional attire, gather along riverbanks, ponds, and reservoirs to express gratitude to the Sun God for sustaining life. With bamboo baskets filled with fruits, sugarcane, and thekua, they stand waist-deep in water as the final rays of sunlight shimmer over the surface — a sight that has become one of Bihar’s most enduring symbols of devotion.
“This is the only festival in the world where both the setting and rising sun are worshipped,” explains a priest in Patna, as he prepares for the evening rituals. “Offering Arghya to the setting sun is a way of thanking nature for another day, and acknowledging that every end brings a new beginning.”
The evening Arghya, beginning around 5.30 pm, precedes the festival’s conclusion on Monday morning, when devotees will offer Usha Arghya to the rising sun, marking the end of their 36-hour Nirjala fast — an intense penance of complete abstinence from food and water.
“The 36-hour fast is both a test of endurance and an act of surrender,” says an astrologer, who calls Chhath “a festival that connects humanity directly with cosmic energy.” According to him, worshipping the sun at its descent signifies humility, while the morning ritual symbolises hope and renewal.
In Vedic philosophy, the Sun (Surya) is regarded as the soul of the universe — the visible deity whose light sustains creation. “The setting sun represents closure, reflection, and gratitude,” says Shastri. “The rising sun stands for courage, vitality, and new beginnings. Chhath celebrates both — the full circle of life.”
Devotees will gather again before dawn tomorrow to offer Usha Arghya, praying to Chhathi Maiya for health, prosperity, and the long life of their children. Once the ritual concludes, they will break their fast with ginger water or sherbet, in a ceremony known as Parana.
“This festival has become grander with time,” says the priest, “but its essence remains the same — purity, discipline, and gratitude.”
As twilight falls and the chants rise in unison, the rivers of Bihar will once again mirror the faith of millions — a reflection not just of the sun, but of an ancient culture that continues to find meaning in its light, even as it sets.
