Chhath Puja 2025: Usha Arghya, Time, Rituals And Significance

As dawn breaks over the horizon, millions of devotees gather at riverbanks across India to witness the most sacred moment of Chhath Puja, the Usha Arghya.

This ancient festival, dedicated to Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya, is a beautiful celebration of gratitude and our eternal connection with nature.

Let’s find out the exact date, time, and details to perform Usha Arghya in 2025

Usha Arghya 2025: Time and Details

In 2025, the sacred moment of Usha Arghya will take place on:

Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Sunrise Time: Approximately 06:30 AM

Shashthi Tithi: Begins at 06:04 AM on October 27 and ends at 07:59 AM on Oct 28, 2025

Usha Arghya: Meaning and Significance

Usha Arghya is the final and most important ritual of Chhath Puja. The word "Usha" refers to dawn's first light, the moment night gives way to morning. "Arghya" means offering water to the deity.

Together, Usha Arghya is the sacred offering made to the rising sun on the fourth and final day of Chhath Puja.

This ritual is about giving thanks to the sun for life itself. The morning sun's rays are thought to bring healing energy to the body and mind. Devotees offer prayers to Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya, asking for good health, happiness, and the well-being of their families, especially children.

But what exactly happens during this sacred morning? Let's walk through the rituals step by step.

The Sacred Rituals of Usha Arghya

Beautiful and meaningful rituals mark the final day of Chhath Puja:

Pre-Dawn Preparation

The day begins in darkness, hours before the sun appears. Devotees rise and bathe, then dress in fresh clothes – women often choose yellow or saffron sarees, colors that symbolize purity and devotion in Hindu traditions.

The bamboo basket is carefully arranged with offerings: golden thekua, fresh fruits, sugarcane stalks, coconuts, and turmeric roots. The whole family gathers around the vrati, the one who has taken the sacred vow, offering support and prayers.

The Arghya Ritual

As the sky begins to lighten, devotees make their way to the water's edge. They wade in, knee-deep or waist-deep, facing east where Surya Dev will appear.

When the first golden rays break the horizon, the moment arrives. Using a copper vessel, they offer water mixed with milk, flowers, and akshat (rice grains). The water is cupped in both hands and offered three times, each time with the sacred mantra "Om Suryaya Namah".

This is no mere ritual – it is complete surrender, gratitude flowing from the heart for the gift of life itself.

Breaking the Fast (Parana)

With the Arghya complete, the 36-hour fast (vrat) finally ends. The first thing to touch the devotee's lips is prasad – traditionally a piece of ginger dipped in honey or jaggery, followed by thekua and other sacred offerings.

Then comes raw milk or water, taken with the same reverence as the prayers. The prasad is not kept for oneself alone – it is distributed to family, neighbors, and anyone present, for blessings are meant to be shared freely.

Community Celebration

Families make their way home, where elders wait to bless those who completed the vrat. The prasad continues to be distributed throughout the community, strengthening the bonds between neighbors and kin. Chhath geet, the folk songs passed down through generations, fill the air as people celebrate the successful completion of this sacred observance.

Want to know the most auspicious time for your Chhath Puja rituals? Talk to an astrologer on Astroyogi today and get personalized guidance for your prayers and offerings.

The Heart of Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja is more than rituals and fasting. It's about standing by the river at dawn with your family. It's about the taste of fresh thekua and prasad. It's about singing those folk songs that everyone knows.

This festival pulls you back to your roots and reminds you that some things are bigger than our daily struggles, like the sun that rises every morning, the water that gives life, and the earth that holds us all.

If you're fasting this year, may you find the strength. If you're helping someone who is, that's equally sacred. And if you're just learning about Chhath Puja for the first time, welcome, there's always room for more devotion, more gratitude.