Patna: The final day of Chhath Puja, Bihar’s most revered festival of faith and endurance, began before dawn on Tuesday as devotees across the state prepared to offer Usha Arghya — prayers to the rising Sun — marking the conclusion of the four-day ritual devoted to Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya.
After offering Sandhya Arghya to the setting Sun on Monday evening, lakhs of fasting devotees — known as vratees — have gathered along the banks of the Ganga, ponds, and local water bodies to offer morning oblations to the rising Sun.
The auspicious sunrise for Usha Arghya will take place between 5:45 am and 6:00 am across all 38 districts of Bihar, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). In Patna and Gaya, sunrise is expected at 5:55 am, while Katihar will see the first rays of the Sun at 5:45 am, the earliest in the state. Bhabua, on the other hand, will be the last to witness sunrise at 6:00 am.
The table below outlines the specific sunrise timings for the final day of the festival, October 28th, for key districts in Bihar:
| District | Sunrise (October 28) |
|---|---|
| Patna | 5:55 am |
| Gaya | 5:55 am |
| Bhagalpur | 5:47 am |
| Purnia | 5:46 am |
| West Champaran | 5:59 am |
| Muzaffarpur | 5:54 am |
| Saran | 5:49 am |
| Darbhanga | 5:52 am |
| Supaul | 5:51 am |
| Araria | 5:46 am |
| Rohtas | 5:58 am |
| Madhubani | 5:52 am |
| East Champaran | 5:57 am |
| Sheikhpura | 5:51 am |
| Gopalganj | 5:58 am |
| Jamui | 5:50 am |
| Buxar | 5:59 am |
| Sheohar | 5:55 am |
| Bhojpur | 5:52 am |
| Samastipur | 5:51 am |
| Vaishali | 5:55 am |
| Sitamarhi | 5:54 am |
| Aurangabad | 5:57 am |
| Begusarai | 5:50 am |
| Khagaria | 5:49 am |
| Banka | 5:47 am |
| Katihar | 5:45 am |
| Nawada | 5:52 am |
| Bhabua | 6:00 am |
| Kishanganj | 5:47 am |
| Siwan | 5:58 am |
| Lakhisarai | 5:50 am |
| Jehanabad | 5:55 am |
| Arwal | 5:56 am |
| Madhepura | 5:48 am |
| Saharsa | 5:49 am |
| Munger | 5:49 am |
| Nalanda | 5:53 am |
This morning, devotees are likely to face foggy and slightly chilly conditions, with the IMD forecasting light mist and partly cloudy skies across northern and central Bihar. The temperature is expected to hover between 18°C and 20°C, with mild winds and reduced visibility during early hours. The Meteorological Centre has forecast dry weather throughout the day, bringing relief after two days of cloud cover caused by a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal.
The four-day Chhath festival, celebrated with deep devotion and simplicity, involves rigorous fasting, ritual bathing, and offerings made to the Sun — the only visible deity in Hindu tradition. The festival culminates today with Parana, the breaking of the 36-hour nirjala fast (without food or water) after sunrise.
At the JP Setu Ghat in Patna, one of the city’s largest Chhath venues, authorities have deployed disaster response teams, divers, and medical staff. The ghats have been illuminated and barricaded, and over 2,000 sanitation workers have been deployed to maintain cleanliness.
Speaking about the morning rituals, Astrologer Ravi Mishra said, “The Usha Arghya signifies new energy and hope. Devotees thank the Sun for sustaining life and pray for happiness, prosperity, and health.”
From Patna’s Ganga ghats to Koshi’s riverbanks, the air reverberates with folk songs and chants of ‘Chhathi Maiya ki Jai’ as devotees prepare to welcome the first rays of dawn — a sacred symbol of renewal, light, and life itself.
As the Sun rises over Bihar today, it brings not just the conclusion of a festival, but also the reaffirmation of faith, resilience, and unity that define the spirit of Chhath Puja.
