Chhath Puja is a four-day Hindu festival honoring the Sun God, observed mainly in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. Invitations announce ritual dates, riverside location, and family participation.

About Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja is an ancient solar festival celebrated over four days, typically in October or November. It is observed primarily in Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Jharkhand, though diaspora communities worldwide now participate. The ritual honors Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya (a protective goddess) for health, prosperity, and family welfare. The festival involves fasting, bathing in rivers or ponds, and making offerings of sugarcane, rice, fruits, and clay lamps. Key ceremonies occur at sunrise and sunset on specific days. An invitation must communicate the exact dates of the four-day observance, the riverside or water-body location, the time of key rituals (especially sunset prayers on day 3 and sunrise prayers on day 4), and which family members are expected to attend or assist. Many families designate a primary devotee (often a woman) who performs strict fasting. Invitations often detail what guests should bring, dress code, and whether participation is mandatory or open. The festival is non-sectarian in practice but remains deeply rooted in regional Hindu tradition and family continuity.

Cultural context

Chhath Puja originates in the Vedic period and is documented in ancient Sanskrit texts. It is primarily a women-led ritual, though family participation is central. The Sun God is worshipped as a life-giver and healer. The festival reflects agrarian cycles and water reverence in Indo-Gangetic plains. Rituals require direct contact with natural water bodies at dawn and dusk, making the location and timing critical to the observance.