Across India, devotees marked the culmination of Chhath Puja 2025 with the observance of 'Usha Arghya' on October 28, offering prayers to the rising sun. This final ritual of the four-day festival saw devotees gathering at rivers, lakes, and ponds before dawn to worship Surya Dev (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, expressing gratitude for health, wealth, and prosperity.
Usha Arghya, also known as Udayagami Arghya, signifies the end of the Chhath Puja rituals. The word "Usha" means dawn, and "Arghya" refers to the offering, typically of water, light, and prasad, dedicated to the Sun God. The festival began on October 25 with the Nahay Khay ritual. The Usha Arghya is considered a sacred morning, representing light, purity, and new beginnings.
The observance involves devotees standing waist-deep in water, facing the east, as the first rays of the sun appear. They offer water, milk, fruits, and sweets in brass or bronze vessels while chanting prayers. 'Om Suryaya Namah' is a common chant during this ritual.
After the Usha Arghya, devotees break their 36-hour-long waterless fast in a ceremony called Parana. The breaking of the fast involves consuming Thekua (a special sweet prepared for Chhath Puja), fruits, and holy water. This act symbolizes gratitude and the successful completion of the Chhath Vrat.
Chhath Puja is a significant festival, particularly in North India, including Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Delhi-NCR. It is a celebration of gratitude, purity, and devotion to the sun, the source of nature's energy.
Chhathi Maiya, the goddess of purity, motherhood, and fertility, is also worshipped along with Surya Dev during Usha Arghya. Devotees pray to her for the well-being of their children and family, with many women observing the fast with the belief that Chhathi Maiya will bless them with happiness and protection.
The Usha Arghya on October 28, 2025, marked the end of a period of devotion, discipline, and gratitude. The ritual serves as a reminder of the importance of nature's balance and spiritual dedication, filling hearts with peace, joy, and the promise of new beginnings. The conclusion of the festival involves collective chants and the distribution of Prasad. The Usha Arghya symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and the renewal of spiritual energy.
