Photos: How Chhath Puja was celebrated across India and beyond borders

Chhath Puja is one of the most revered and ancient Hindu festivals celebrated not only in India but beyond borders. The festival, dedicated to Surya Dev (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, is celebrated mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh. But considering the beauty and importance of the festival, almost the whole wide world is celebrating this beautiful cultural festival.The festival involves rigorous fasting, holy bathing, and offering arghya to the rising and setting sun. Everyone observing the fast, expresses their gratitude for their life, healthy life, and prosperity. Men and women observing the fast maintain strict purity during Chhath rituals. Traditional songs, foods like thekua, and community gatherings along rivers and ponds symbolises harmony with nature.Here are 10 pictures of the festival from across India:Devotion at the GangesOn the banks of the Ganga River in Bihar, hundreds of devotees wade into the water at first light to offer Arghya (water) to the rising sun. This scene is one of the enduring and most-powerful visual hallmarks of Chhath.Sunset rituals and arghyaAt sunset, devotees once again stand waist-deep in water or at the edge of a river or pond to salute the setting sun. The glow of lamps and the silhouette of praying hands create a vivid atmosphere of reverence.Traditional offerings (Soop) and thekuaThe ritual baskets (soops) filled with fruits, sugarcane, jaggery sweets like thekua form an integral part of the celebration. These offerings are prepared with care and devotion, symbolising gratitude to the sun-god and nature.Ghats overflowing with devoteesIn towns like Patna and other parts of Bihar and UP, massive crowds gather along ghats to participate. The visual scale is overwhelming, highlighting the communal nature of the festival.Celebrations by the Indian diaspora abroadFrom the United States to Mauritius to Singapore and beyond, Indian communities have carried the Chhath tradition abroad. Despite being far from home waters, devotees replicate rituals — fasts, offerings, sunrise and sunset prayers — adapting to new locales while preserving core spirit.Eco-Friendly CelebrationsIn major urban centres, the festival has taken on new dimensions: specially prepared ghats with solar lighting, sanitation arrangements, and awareness drives for eco-friendly offerings. The festival thus bridges tradition and modern civic sensibility.Family gatherings Whether in India or abroad, the festival isn’t just about ritual—it’s also about family and community. Preparing prasad, sharing a meal post-fast, and gathering in social harmony are integral parts.Cultural beautyThe continuation of Chhath across generations is clearly visible. Children and young people learn the rituals, help in preparation, and internalise the cultural values that go with the festival—ensuring tradition lives on.Beyond bordersWhile mainly associated with Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh, the celebration of Chhath is also prominent in southern Nepal — reflecting the shared cultural and religious roots across the border.The final morning ritual, offering “Morning Argya” to the rising sun, encapsulates the festival’s theme of renewal, gratitude and hope for well-being. The stillness of dawn and the devotion captured here speak volumes.