Patna: The Mahaparv (grand festival) of folk faith, Chhath Puja, is being celebrated this week across Bihar and in communities throughout India, marked by rigorous fasting and solemn devotion to the Sun God, Surya. As devotees prepare to offer Sandhya Arghya this evening and Usha Arghya at dawn on Monday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast fog and cloudy skies in most parts of Bihar during the final two days of the four-day festival.
According to the Patna Meteorological Centre, light fog will persist in the mornings, while cloud cover is expected throughout the day. Despite the mild weather changes, devotees have gathered in large numbers at riverbanks, ponds, and artificial ghats to perform the rituals with faith and precision.
The Precision of Sacred Timings
For Chhath devotees, timing is absolute; the faithful must offer the first arghya exactly at sunset on the third day and the second, final offering at sunrise on the fourth day. Any deviation from the precise astronomical moment is considered a breach of the fast.
Across the state’s 38 districts, the sunset on October 27 will occur in a tight window between 5.01 pm and 5.18 pm. Conversely, the sunrise on the morning of October 28 will range from 5.45 am to 6.01 am.
The district of Araria will experience the earliest sunset on Monday, while Katihar is set for the earliest sunrise on Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, districts in the western belt, such as Bhabua and Rohtas, will see the sun set and rise comparatively later.
Here are the official sunset and sunrise timings for all 38 districts:
| District | Sunset (October 27) | Sunrise (October 28) |
|---|---|---|
| Patna | 5:11 pm | 5:55 am |
| Gaya | 5:11 pm | 5:55 am |
| Bhagalpur | 5:04 pm | 5:47 am |
| Purnia | 5:02 pm | 5:46 am |
| West Champaran | 5:12 pm | 5:59 am |
| Muzaffarpur | 5:10 pm | 5:54 am |
| Saran | 5:08 pm | 5:49 am |
| Darbhanga | 5:08 pm | 5:52 am |
| Supaul | 5:06 pm | 5:51 am |
| Araria | 5:01 pm | 5:46 am |
| Rohtas | 5:17 pm | 5:58 am |
| Madhubani | 5:07 pm | 5:52 am |
| East Champaran | 5:11 pm | 5:57 am |
| Sheikhpura | 5:09 pm | 5:51 am |
| Gopalganj | 5:13 pm | 5:58 am |
| Jamui | 5:08 pm | 5:50 am |
| Buxar | 5:16 pm | 5:59 am |
| Sheohar | 5:10 pm | 5:55 am |
| Bhojpur | 5:09 pm | 5:52 am |
| Samastipur | 5:07 pm | 5:51 am |
| Vaishali | 5:11 pm | 5:55 am |
| Sitamarhi | 5:09 pm | 5:54 am |
| Aurangabad | 5:15 pm | 5:57 am |
| Begusarai | 5:08 pm | 5:50 am |
| Khagaria | 5:06 pm | 5:49 am |
| Banka | 5:05 pm | 5:47 am |
| Katihar | 5:02 pm | 5:45 am |
| Nawada | 5:10 pm | 5:52 am |
| Bhabua | 5:18 pm | 6:00 am |
| Kishanganj | 5:04 pm | 5:47 am |
| Siwan | 5:14 pm | 5:58 am |
| Lakhisarai | 5:08 pm | 5:50 am |
| Jehanabad | 5:12 pm | 5:55 am |
| Arwal | 5:14 pm | 5:56 am |
| Madhepura | 5:04 pm | 5:48 am |
| Saharsa | 5:05 pm | 5:49 am |
| Munger | 5:06 pm | 5:49 am |
| Nalanda | 5:11 pm | 5:53 am |
According to priests and astrologers, the evening offering (Sandhya Arghya) symbolises gratitude to the setting sun for the day gone by, while the morning ritual (Usha Arghya) represents renewal, hope, and the beginning of a new cycle.
“The sunset and sunrise timings are vital for devotees to perform the rituals correctly,” said a Patna-based priest. “Even with cloudy weather, faith shines through every heart on Chhath — the light of devotion never fades.”
With the state’s ghats decorated and rivers glowing in the reflection of earthen lamps, Bihar stands poised for one of the most sacred moments of the year — when millions bow in unison to the sun, symbolising the timeless bond between faith, nature, and tradition.
